Lara arrival boosts West Indies

Brian Lara: into the lion's den © Getty Images

His arrival was a day later than anticipated by team management because of a mix-up over time-zones but New Zealand coach John Bracewell acknowledges Brian Lara's presence will provide a much needed boost for the West Indies in the coming Test series. "You can't have a guy who holds every batting record there is and not gain confidence," Bracewell said yesterday.

By his own request, Lara has missed the series of five one-day internationals that ends at Eden Park here today. The West Indies have been beaten in all four matches so far and coach Bennett King reiterated that the left-handed champion won't be suddenly rushed into the side tomorrow.

"We picked a squad for the one-day series and we'll be sticking to it," King said. Lara, fast bowler Daren Powell and left-handed opener Devon Smith are the three players chosen specifically for the Tests scheduled to arrive late yesterday. They replace Wavell Hinds and Deighton Butler who return to the Caribbean Sunday.

Team media manager Imran Khan explained yesterday that flight details of the arrival of Lara and the others were "mixed up because of the time with the West Indies". It caused local team liaison John Bishop a fruitless trip to Auckland International Airport. He goes back today.

Lara's arrival should not only be a fillip for the team but for the Test series as a whole. "He'll be a great boost," Bracewell observed. "He is the man who puts their big runs on the board and when they compete as a team it's usually when he gets a score under his belt.

"As a Test side, they were one of the few sides to leave Australia without their tail between their legs," Bracewell said, referring to the series last November. Although the West Indies lost 3-0, they pushed Australia hard in the last Test following Lara's 226 that carried him past Allan Border as Test cricket's leading run-scorer. Their Test team will have a stronger feel to it than the one-day side."

There is added incentive for Lara to do well on his third tour of New Zealand. He was captain six years ago when the West Indies lost both Tests and five ODIs, prompting him to resign the position after what he termed "two years of moderate success and devastating failure".

His only hundred in eight Tests against New Zealand was in the 660 for 5 declared that led to an innings victory at Wellington in 1995.

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