`We learnt a lot from Australia': Brian Lara

Brian Lara has said that his West Indian team learnt a lot by playing Australia in the recent Test and one-day international series at home. In Chennai to do a spot of promotional go-karting, Lara spoke to the press about how, despite losing, West Indies benefited by playing Australia.

"Playing against Australia has improved our players' performances," said Lara. "We lost both the Test and one-day series against Australia, but we learnt a lot from them. They are a champion side."

Lara's young side won the final dead-rubber Test against the Australia, and then won the last three one-day internationals, after Australia had already clinched the series by winning the first four. One of the notable things about the series was that while most of the Australians were in their early 30s, West Indies had a side that was largely in its twenties, and on the upswing.

"We've a good crop of youngsters in the team," Lara said. "It's good to have young players around you. They are inexperienced, but talented. Our side is improving."

One man who would no doubt have been glad to hear that is Steve Waugh, who was also in Chennai, to promote the same go-karting event as Lara, for their bat sponsors, MRF. Waugh had combined his promotional tour of India with a visit to Udayan, a home for leprosy-afflicted children in Kolkata. While there, Waugh was asked for his comments on Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain and Kolkata's favourite local boy.

Waugh, graciously, if predictably, was all praise for Ganguly. "His [Ganguly's] captaincy has direction and he enjoys his team's respect," Waugh said. "Captaincy calls for tough decisions and he doesn't go for soft options. Under his captaincy, the boys seem to be enjoying a fight. There's a new toughness in the current Indian side."

All sweetness in the off season. Just wait till the cricket begins again.