Time for Lara to step up (16 December 1998)

16 December 1998

Time for Lara to step up

Tony Becca

DURBAN - Last Saturday, minutes after his team's stunning 178 run, three-day defeat by South Africa in the second Test, captain Brian Lara said: "We are not going to embarrass ourselves any further, we have got to dig deep with the resources we have got and see how best we can come back".

There is no question that the West Indies have embarrassed themselves - not only did they fall for 121 and 141, not only did they last a mere 37.3 overs in the first innings and then surrender in 38.2 in the second innings, but they also looked like a team without purpose - a team lacking the will to perform and the motivation to do so.

There are problems in the West Indies camp and unless someone does something about it, there will be further embarrassments - not only in Durban, but also in Cape Town and Pretoria.

In some quarters, the blame is being placed at the feet of Clive Lloyd and Malcolm Marshall, and as manager and coach respectively, they have to accept part of the blame.

The final responsibility for motivating the players, however, rests with the captain and, from now on, all eyes will be on Lara to see how he deals with it, especially as the whispers and some evidence suggest that because of his attitude to some of the players he is part of the problem.

The whispers include the accusation that Lara has become a law unto himself, that he has no respect for some of the players and that those players, as a result, have lost respect for him - to the point where they would prefer to be home rather than here playing in such an atmosphere.

In the past, there have been problems with West Indies teams, but probably apart from the 1975-76 series in Australia, nothing to compare with the present situation. The time has come to stop talking and to perform and for Lara that means as a captain - on and off the field - and as a batsman.

As the captain, Lara needs to win back the respect of his players and to do that, like all good leaders, he will have to humble himself as far as dealing with his players is concerned.

The players need to be motivated and whatever it takes, Lara must do it. It is his responsibility and if he fails, not only will his team be further embarrassed, not only, especially for a man with such pride, will it haunt him for a long time, but it would also put his job as the captain on the line.

It won't be easy coming back from two Tests down and it won't be easy winning the third Test in Durban. In a team in which so many of the players - batsmen and bowlers - are short of quality, motivation alone cannot turn things around.

At this stage, it may be too late to win the series or even draw it. A team in which the players are all for one and one for all, however, could lift itself and perform to a level that the opposition would respect it and the people it represents would be proud of it.

It now all depends on Lara as a leader, as a captain and as a batsman.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)