Lara's eyes on tour down under

London-Star batsman Brian Lara Monday set eyes on the series against Australia after a mixed series against England. Lara, who finished the series with 239 runs at an average of 26.55, was one of the three West Indies batsmen to score 200 runs. The others were opener Sherwin Campbell (270) and skipper Jimmy Adams (218).

'I have not had a very good summer, so it was the first occasion I have batted with him in a Test match,' Lara said of his stand with young batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan.

They treated the packed Oval to high-class batsmanship and made light of the England bowling and looked like spoiling the home side's historic victory celebration.

But England fought back and won the series 3-1 for the first time in 31 years and became the new custodians of the coveted Wisden Trophy that had been with the West Indies since 1973.

'He (Sarwan) will be a very good player, and I expect a lot from him. I think I will have a lot of innings with him and I will enjoy them,' Lara added.

'We will give Australia a good fight, and if we play good cricket, you never know,' he said of the series later this year.

In 18 Tests against Australia, Lara, holder of the highest individual innings in both Test and first-class cricket, has scored 1 616 runs and averages 53.87 with five centuries and eight half-centuries.

But he knows the West Indies will have to make do without Curtly Ambrose in Australia.

Ambrose, 36, ended his 98-Test career at the end of the series after taking 405 Test wickets in a career spanning over 12 years.

'I like to think I have brought joy to many people all over the world,' said Ambrose after leaving the Oval to an emotional farewell by 18 500 Londoners.

England gave Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, who remains undecided about his future, a guard of honour when they came to bat.

'I expected I might get an ovation, but to get what I did from the England players really showed that they respected me. It was really pleasing.

'I have had a few good memories over the years. At present I can't remember them because I am so disappointed,' Ambrose said of the series defeat.

'I have had a wonderful career and I am pleased with it. The good times outweigh the bad, and I would not change it for anything.'