Lara ready to play leading role

Arundel- His mother Pearl's illness very nearly kept Brian Lara from the current England tour.

Now he has learnt that his aunt, his mother's sister, died in Trinidad two days ago.

Lara, understandably saddened, said here yesterday his 75-year-old aunt had succumbed to colon cancer.

But he had just spoken enthusiastically about the coming series against England to a media conference and indicated his focus would be firmly on the first Test, starting in Birmingham on Thursday.

Lara revealed that his mother was back in Trinidad after receiving treatment in Miami and was doing well.

He had made an appointment with Trinidad-born heart specialist, Dr. Ormond Mendes, and accompanied her to Miami before joining the West Indies team.

After first deciding against touring England because of his mother's situation, Lara changed his mind at the last minute, stating that he would 'put in place adequate arrangements to handle this to the extent possible whilst I am on tour'.

So far, he has appeared relaxed and focused on the summer ahead.

Prior to his masterful 176 against Zimbabwe at Arundel on Saturday, he went through a net session on the outfield specially for a Channel 4 television programme, with lucky spectators watching in admiration.

He then did an interview that presenter Mark Nicholas called 'fabulous, just fabulous'.

Even when he was failing with his earlier scores of 1, 1, 0 and 11, he readily obliged authograph hunters and chatted with spectators in the carefree atmosphere of the county grounds.

He has also handled the Press affably, in spite of much adverse comment and one particularly vitriolic character assassination yesterday by the Daily Telegraph cricket correspondent, Michael Henderson, the present-day E.M.Wellings.

But how has he fitted into the team now led by Jimmy Adams?

'It's been very easy,' Lara said. 'This isn't politics. This is cricket and fun-loving people going out to try their best for their country.

'When I left the team everybody was concerned, but I've found everybody very supportive on my return.

'The minute I re-entered the side, the guys were welcoming me back and it's been a very good relationship I've had on the field, off the field, in the game and away from the game,' he added.

'That's going to continue, no matter what.'

He acknowledged his role, not so much as batsman but as senior player.

'I think any senior player, especially those of us who have experience in England, is going to be beneficial to any team,' he said.

'I've played a lot in England with two county seasons and two tours with the West Indies beforehand.

'I know what it's like coming to England for the first time and how tricky it can be for the new players and I hope that, being here, I can share my knowledge and experience with those here for the first time like Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle.

'When they lean on your shoulders, you should be able to provide the kind of knowledge and guidance that is expected, and that is what I am here for,'Lara said.

'I'm in my 30s and I'm looking forward to playing that role now.'

Even after Saturday's breathtaking 176, Lara was still not convinced he was back to his best.

'It was just a matter of feeling my way in,' he said. 'I didn't expect after those low scores to come and get 176 against Zimbabwe. But I didn't feel that I had lost it or anything like that.

'I knew I still had it in me to play cricket and still score runs and it happened here.

'I hope that in the Test matches and all the other matches to come that I can show my true worth to my team and my supporters,' he noted.

What was important about the innings against Zimbabwe was the length of time he batted.

'I'm not sure, it was around 200 balls, maybe 175, which is about the amount of time you would take to score a hundred in a Test,' he explained, although the actual number of balls was 163.

'I think it'll do my mental and physical state a world of good and I felt that I was actually getting into rhythm.

'Compared to the first two matches, I felt a lot better with my foot movement, and my hand-to-eye co-ordination is coming on. Everything seems to be synchronising at the right time.'

These were heartening words to West Indian ears. England would put a different interpretation on them.