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Lara wants his team to have 'a very good plan for
each and every single [opposition] batsman'
© Getty Images
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One hundred and forty-nine runs: it is what Mohammad Yousuf needs to break
Sir Viv Richards's thirty-year old record for the most Test runs in a
calendar year. And it is precisely what the West Indies will be trying to
stop him from achieving during the third Test at Karachi.
Brian Lara told reporters at the National Stadium he was aware of the
record and would prefer it to stay in his countryman's hands.
"Mohammad Yousuf is of course challenging the record, but we would like
Viv Richards to continue holding the most runs in a calendar year. So
we'll be coming really hard at him for that."
It hasn't yet worked, as 439 runs and a lowest score of 56 from three
innings for Yousuf suggests, though four dropped catches through the
series hasn't helped. But Lara pointed out that Yousuf wasn't the only
threat. "He's been batting very well but you need a very good plan for
each and every single batsman. You have the likes of Imran Farhat who
scored two half centuries in the last game and he's a very good player as
well. Inzamam is due for a score in the series so we are not going to take
anyone lightly. We'll be doing our homework and ensure that we come out
and nullify the impact they have."
Though West Indies have often slipped in the past immediately following
encouraging performances, Lara insisted the Multan Test might have
belatedly signalled a change. "We are working very hard as a team. You know
we talk about transition all the time but I think transition is something
that is not tangible. You have to actually go away and perform and do it
consistently and then you see yourself actually turn the corner.
"I feel that the Test in Multan is maybe one of the better Tests I've
played in, in a long, long time away from home. We didn't get the final
result but playing against one of the main nations in world cricket and
having them under pressure for 14 out of 15 sessions was definitely
something. Being 502 for 4 at one stage in Pakistan is a performance we
haven't see for quite some time. Let's see if we can put not just five
days but ten days of good cricket together now."
The final XI, he added, would be decided upon inspection of the surface
but repeated that only the combination most likely to win the Test would
be picked. "We are going to play our best combination and if we play 15
good sessions of cricket then the chances of a result improve." A return
for Ramnaresh Sarwan appears unlikely given the side's performance in
Multan, but Lara was keen to insist, again, that he remains in the
picture.
"Sarwan will be considered like all players in the squad. I repeat Sarwan
remains the brightest of talents in the West Indies cricket over the last
15 years. He is looking forward to the chances if given and I can see he
is eager to get out in the middle," Lara said.
Rare is the press conference in Pakistan where questions about
sub-standard pitches aren't asked. One reporter asked Lara whether he had
any recommendations for the PCB in order to help them produce better
pitches. Lara sidestepped diplomatically, before pointing out: "Someone
rightly said that Pakistan won the first Test and West Indies should have
won the second Test if they had taken their catches."
His counterpart, Inzamam-ul-Haq also played down fears that he was
influencing the production of flat wickets in Pakistan to aid his batsmen.
Visibly incensed by a query, Inzamam retorted, "Over the last three years,
most Tests in Pakistan have ended with a result. Even in Multan, had
catches not been dropped there might have been a result. Pitches produce
results here and it's not true that I ask curators to make flat pitches."
In any case, he expects Karachi's pitch to be livelier. "I expect the
wicket to offer help to pace bowlers. West Indies have a very good pace
attack and they can get support here but our bowlers have also done well.
Hopefully there will be a result."
Karachi will be Lara's last Test in Pakistan and though he is keen to do
well, a result for his side, he said, would be immensely more important.
"That question has been asked of me around the world recently. It will be
my last Test in Pakistan and on a personal note, yes I would like to do
something really special. But, if after six years, we can beat a major
Test nation away from home and leave a great memory for West Indies like
that, that will be my number one aim."
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo