'Toughen Up' - Lara wants team-mates to improve mentally (30 December 1998)

30 December 1998

'Toughen Up' - Lara wants team-mates to improve mentally

The Barbados Nation

Brian Lara acknowledged yesterday he was "a bit down" after losing his first overseas tour as captain after just three of the five Tests against South Africa.

But he recognised he had to "lead from the front" and called on his players to show more mental toughness in the Tests to come.

"I can't show a despondent mood," he said. "I've got to go out there and be high-spirited and get the guys to regroup. But I certainly wasn't looking forward to losing my first series so early.

"We came down here with a lot of promise, we expected to do well and we failed," he added. "Taking all that into consideration, it's a learning experience for myself, a learning experience for a lot of other guys in the team and something that we won't want to repeat."

He accepted that South Africa had outplayed the West Indies in all three Test matches. But he maintained that if they batted "properly", with the way the bowlers have performed, his team could still win.

"A lot of my batting is up to how mentally strong I am," he said. "I'd like to see the other guys really, really focus mentally, not only in the nets or at practice games, but to mentally prepare themselves before the Tests. That area needs to be improved, the mental strength of the individuals."

Lara said the West Indies had struggled with key players carrying injuries but did not offer it as an excuse for the state of the series. It was, simply, that South Africa had played better, more consistent cricket.

With Courtney Walsh doubtful for the fourth Test in Cape Town starting on Saturday after limping off the field yesterday with a torn hamstring, and Curtly Ambrose with a painful knee he has had for some time, the going won't get any easier against committed opposition.

Lara described the spirit in the team as understandably low but noted that there were still two Tests and seven One-Day Internationals to go.

"What's got to be remembered is that we are here to play cricket not only for ourselves but for a lot of people back in the Caribbean and a lot of supporters around the world, and we need to go out there and give a good performance each and every time," he said.

"Whoever plays needs to know that it's pride, that a lot of people are looking up to us," he added. "You heard the small band of West Indians in the crowd still singing one of our favourite songs, Rally Round The West Indies, even though we are staring at not only defeat but a series loss.

"We need to play for those people and play for ourselves. Hopefully that's enough for the guys to pick themselves up. We can talk, The Management can talk but it's up to the individuals to be mature enough and to know that the people still expect them to give of their best."

While everyone is prone to failure, Lara said he was looking for a larger group of players performing at the same time, not just two or three.

"Yesterday we were getting into a pretty good position with our batting and then, all of a sudden, in a matter of 10-15 runs, we were back to square one," he said. "Not everybody is going to succeed or perform well on each occasion, but what we need is more players performing when it's necessary."

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)