'Shiv has come back in a great manner' - Lara

Shivnarine Chanderpaul may have stepped down as West Indies captain, but he continues to play a key leadership role. That's the early assessment from Brian Lara, the new captain, who also feels there are a few players in the team capable to taking over the mantle.

"Shiv [Chanderpaul] has come back in a great manner. He is there fully supportive," Lara said. "Even though he has resigned his position, I still think he is taking on a leadership role, which is great. That itself is a plus for West Indies cricket."

Chanderpaul was appointed captain last year in circumstances that virtually gave him the job by default. On resigning his position last month, he pointed to wanting to concentrate on his batting.

While Lara was appointed captain for a third time, the West Indies Cricket Board opted not to name a vice-captain for the one-day against Zimbabwe. In the event that that Lara has to leave the field, he will identify a player to take over, but he reiterates that the matter over an official No. 2 will resolve itself. "I feel there are two or three guys who can actually go out there and do a decent job in case I have to leave the field or in case I am missing a match for whatever reason," Lara said. "It is not a situation that we should beat over its head. It's going to handle itself.

"What West Indians want is that the next person who takes over this team, be it tomorrow or in a year's time, is the right person for the job and somebody we can depend on to lead West Indies into a bright future."

Lara also spoke of his relationship with Bennett King, the coach, against the background that Chanderpaul had complained that in his tenure as captain, he was restricted because of "inside" influence.

"My short stint with him [King] this time around has been something of all the heads coming together and deciding on how we'll move forward," Lara said. "In any committee there is going to be debate and that is always very going to be healthy. He's been welcome to that.

"I think he knows that with the likes of Joey Carew, Gordon Greenidge and Clyde Butts, he has people who know their cricket and knows West Indies cricket, people who he can depend on for sound advice."