West Indies in limbo

Twelve days away from the now sanctioned tour of Sri Lanka, West Indies cricket is yet again waiting to know whether or not its most celebrated, controversial and unpredictable player will take his place in the team.

The findings are expected today of an MRI scan on a persistent right hamstring muscle that should determine whether Brian Lara is fit enough to undertake the November 1 to December 20 trip that includes three Tests and a series of One-Day Internationals also involving Zimbabwe.

Chairman of selectors, Mike Findlay, said yesterday that Lara would remain in the team once cleared by doctors. But the final decision is likely to be made by Lara himself.

Given his previous record, he is unlikely to go if he does not feel ready, whatever the medical report.

Three times, and for different reasons, Lara has belatedly withdrawn from tours for which he was selected.

He pulled out in the middle of the 1995 tour of England after disagreements with captain Richie Richardson before being persuaded to return by then West Indies Cricket Board president Peter Short.

Later that year, he quit the team to Australia two days before its departure, stating he needed a break away from the team because of the stress and the pressure.

He gave up the captaincy in February 2000 and missed the home series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan to seek the assistance of appropriate professionals to rebuild all facets of my game.

He was reluctant to return for the subsequent summer's tour of England and only agreed to inclusion in the team after lengthy beseeching and after the 16 had already been chosen without him.

Four months ago, the same injury that has put his availability for Sri Lanka in doubt prompted him to abandon the tour of Zimbabwe a week after arrival in Harare.

The 32-year-old left-hander, holder of the record scores in both Test and first-class cricket, strained the hamstring in a match in England in June 2000 and said it has bothered him ever since, in spite of recent lengthy rest and treatment by several doctors.

Wavell Hinds, the Jamaican left-handed batsman, was drafted into the squad at a pre-tour camp in Jamaica on Monday as cover for Lara.

But Findlay said that Lara was originally selected in the knowledge that he had played very little cricket since the South African home series in May and would be retained once given the medical all-clear.

Findlay noted that Lara had represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Red Stripe Bowl earlier this month, scored 100 in one of the matches and didn't leave the field once.

Along with his experience and his proven record, it was enough evidence for the selectors to pick him.

Not for the first time, it is not their decision that will count in the end but Lara's. Once more, West Indies cricket anxiously awaits it.