Marshall: Lara's mind on captaincy (19 Dec 1997)

Thursday, December 18, 1997

Marshall: Lara's mind on captaincy

Trinidad Express

IF STAR West Indies batsman Brian Lara has not been himself at the crease lately, it might be because his mind is on taking over the captaincy of the team for England's tour of the Caribbean which begins next month.

West Indies coach Malcolm Marshall yesterday told reporters in England that the long debate about the captaincy issue has affected Lara. But he argued that it was only natural.

"I don't think Brian's batting problems during the last few weeks have been technical," Marshall said, "The whole captaincy issue is affecting him and he has spoken to me about it a couple of times. When you know you are close to becoming captain, I think it would affect anybody." The world's most exciting batsman, holder of both Test and first-class record scores, has been struggling for runs as he tries to show the selectors that he is the man to take over the reins of a team in sharp decline.

Walsh, by contrast, is bowling as well as he has ever done in his life. The 35-year-old Jamaican was the top wicket taker in Pakistan, and in Sharjah has been the most potent new-ball force in the tournament. And should the West Indians beat England's One-day specialists in the Champions' Trophy final tomorrow, Walsh may get a stay of execution. Walsh looked certain to be axed in the wake of the 3-0 Test whitewash by Pakistan, but the West Indies have bounced back somewhat in Sharjah. If they beat Adam Hollioake's side tomorrow, they will go home for Christmas with some pride restored.

But that leaves Lara, for whom the last few months especially have been a curious, even tortured, existence, caught in the middle of a saga that has threatened to tear apart the team once regarded as the world's best. Marshall, however, denied that Walsh and Lara did not get on and scoffed at reports that they don't even speak.

Lara, though, has been keeping a deliberately low profile during the last 10 days in Sharjah, spending virtually all his leisure time on the golf course away from the team and media glare.

Marshall said that he was "very disappointed with his batting." " But he loves to play for the West Indies," he added, "and there is no way he would not not play against England in the Test series even if he was not made captain. He is not that sort of person."

Marshall said personal criticism back home in the Caribbean had also hurt Laraand he has also struggled to come to terms with the mental burden of being expected to score more heavily than anyone else every time the West Indies bat.

According to the ex-pacer now become coach,the the West Indies team maintained a good spirit despite the Pakistan humiliation.

"Pakistan is the hardest country in the world to tour but people back home still expect us to win everything, like we used to when Clive Lloyd was captain and we beat England 5-0 in two Test series," he said. "But we are having fun here in Sharjah and the players are very happy." Marshall conceded that England have played well in this tournament and suggested that the starategy of picking a One-day team separate and distinct from the Test team was worth looking at.

"I think we also should be picking a One-day specialist team for these events. But we came here straight from the Pakistan Test tour and so we have had to make do with the 15 players that came across, after Curtly Ambrose went home to have treatment for his shoulder injury."

Hollioake's team had a relaxing day today, only travelling from their Dubai base to the Sharjah Stadium late on for some fielding practice under lights. They plan a full net session tomorrow morning.

Lara, meanwhile, will meet Warwickshire chief executive Dennis Amiss to sign his one-year contract for next season during a brief stop-over in London this weekend on his way home from Sharjah.

The contract, which sees him succeed Tim Munton as skipper, will be signed at a media conference in the Excelsior Hotel at Heathrow Airport at 9.30am on Saturday.

Lara played for Warwickshire in their treble-winning campaign three seasons ago and said: "I can't wait for the opportunity to return to Edgbaston, the scene of such wonderful success for myself and the club in 1994.

"I hope that in 1998 I can lead a successful team and a championship-winning club."

Lara will be available for Warwickshire's first home championship game of the season on April 17 against Durham, the victims of his world-record 501 not out in 1994.

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