West Indies need Lara at forefront (10 March 1999)

10 March 1999

West Indies need Lara at forefront

Peter Deeley in Port of Spain

The Pelican Inn on the fringe of this city's famed savannah is the premier watering hole for cricketers to gather for a sundowner, and a few hours after the West Indies debacle at the hands of Australia, Brian Lara and Steve Waugh could be seen locked together in animated conversation.

But there was no animus: it was one of those occasions when a Test captain was offering solace - mental as well as liquid - to a gallant opponent.

While Waugh may be celebrating the magnitude of Australia's 312-run victory, he is all too aware of the wider ramifications for the game of the West Indies' plunge from greatness.

In particular, he senses the dangers for a rudderless team should Lara feel that he wants no more of the shambles which saw them bowled out in 102 minutes, taking just 19.1 overs for their lowest Test score, 51.

Lara has pledged to carry on for the moment but dropped a hint that he would not be prepared to go through the rest of his career propping up the carcass of Caribbean cricket.

He is on probation as captain for the first two Tests and knows that when the second game begins in Kingston on Saturday, the Jamaican crowd will not accord the Trini-dadian the same tolerance shown in his own country.

They would like to see the crown handed back to Courtney Walsh, the man Lara succeeded, but the fast bowler may be muttering that old saw about once bitten, twice shy.

For the moment Lara is being exonerated from much of the blame and the remark by one former Test bowler - a Jamaican - that "they will lynch him at Sabina Park" was a hot-headed reaction to the West Indies' sixth Test defeat in a row - and the second by more than 300 runs.

Waugh feels that the people of the region must be careful not to alienate Lara irrevocably. "He's the one the kids idolise and cricket here can't afford to see many more youngsters drifting off to other sports if he isn't around."

Australia were ruthless in going for the kill once they scented the West Indies were hurt, but Waugh said: "At the same time, I couldn't help feeling a bit sad about the situation here.

"Despite their long period of success, there seems to be a lack of resources and not much structure in place. You can't learn proper techniques without good wickets and facilities."

Lara has already indicated that there will be few changes for the second Test, though Shivnarine Chanderpaul is almost certain to return after injury, possibly for Roland Holder, who twisted an ankle in the first game.

Carl Hooper is still in Australia at the bedside of his seriously ill child and probably will not be back before the third Barbados Test at the end of this month.

The Kingston pitch, which has been relaid since the abandoned England game a year ago, is reported to be a slow turner and would have suited Hooper. Jimmy Adams hardly filled the role in Trinidad and the selectors might go for the Jamaican off-spinner Nehemiah Perry, though, at 30, he has yet to play a Test.

To make matters worse for the West Indies, it was announced last night that Curtly Ambrose would miss the second Test due to a back injury.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)