Lara seeing trouble, says Hunte (12 January 1999)

12 January 1999

Lara seeing trouble, says Hunte

From Tony Cozier in Capetown

Sir Conrad Hunte is concerned that Brian Lara is having problems with his eyesight. Hylton Ackerman has noted that the West Indies captain is the first "great batsman" he has seen jump when he plays a shot.

The two former international batsmen are both agreed that Lara is under pressure.

"I think there might be something wrong with his eyes," Hunte, the former West Indies opener, said in a newspaper interview here. "He must get them tested soon. He is definitely not seeing the ball early enough."

"The early part of his career was sensational ... he rocketed to fame but, in the later part of his career, his form has not been on par with his ability so something is obviously wrong," he added. Ackerman, who played for South Africa in their years of isolation as well as the Rest of the World and English county Northamptomshire, termed Lara's jumping that led to his hit wicket dismissal by Allan Donald in the Fourth Test "a sign of his insecurity and indecision".

"I have sympathy for him," Ackerman, now coach to provincial team Boland, said.

"He is carrying a huge burden (with) the captaincy and the batting order". Ackerman compared Lara's situation with that of the outstanding South African left-hander Graeme Pollock. "Pollock often came to the crease at 80 for two ready to murder the opposition, Lara comes it at 10 for two with the ball still new and shiny," he argued.

"Not ideal for a middle-order man who is meant to make big runs."

Hunte, who has been in South Africa for the past seven years as development officer with the United Cricket Board (UCBSA), pointed out that Lara "has had to overcome psychological issues within himself".

"When Brian got those records, his private life was open to the world and his performances were criticised more," he added, referring to Lara's Test-high 375 and his first-class mark of 501 not out in the space of six weeks in 1994. "I think he became very defensive in his life, which is affecting his cricket too."

But Hunte did not believe the captaincy was responsible for Lara's batting decline.

"It is a burden but I don't think it is affecting his performances," he said. "What I think is affecting him more is his own response to his great achievements. His own expectations are weighing heavily on him."

Lara has not scored a Test hundred for 12 Tests and is averaging 28.50 in the current series against South Africa. He has been out in single figures in three of his last four innings on tour.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)