We know what the bigger picture is' - Lara

'We know what the bigger picture is' - Lara

Though not "100% sure" of his ability to take the field for tomorrow's crucial one-day international at Chennai, Brian Lara cut a confident figure as he assessed his side's current form. With one eye very focused on the World Cup at home in 46 days, Lara stressed on the role of youngsters and the constant need to assess and adjust against the odds.

"We're still very buoyant. The guys are looking forward to the remainder of the series," he told reporters ahead of West Indies' practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. "I think this has always been called a build-up to the World Cup, so whatever we can get out of it - not necessarily results, but in terms of improving different aspects of our game - is important. We shouldn't lose confidence from a series such as this. And even if we were winning, not to leave here over-confident."

It's easy to suggest that West Indies' morale may be down given the 0-2 score line in the four-match series, but Lara thought otherwise: "We are achieving certain things, maybe not in the form of results, but its very optimistic in the dressing-room. We know what the bigger picture is."

For as far back as one can remember, West Indies' batting has revolved around the three senior players - Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Chris Gayle - but Lara denied it was over-reliance. "The batting has definitely improved. Marlon Samuels in Pakistan and the likes of Dwayne Bravo, on a couple of occasions here, have shown that we're trying to improve as far as the matchwinners in the team go - in terms of with bat and ball and the occasional run-out or two.

"It's important to understand that we have a good allround team. We're just trying to get everyone to improve, but of course there are going to be guys well-positioned to do a large part of the job, like Gayle and Chanderpaul and myself, but we have specific jobs for every individual. It's important that they execute it."

Lara did not see the need to change the make-up of the team based on the surface and praised Gayle for the leadership he showed at Cuttack. "It's an exercise for any captain that likes to lead and likes the intricacies of the game. You want to be able to have that kind of situation. I think Chris enjoyed himself a couple days ago, moving around the bowlers, and I think he did a tremendous job. It's only going to develop any captain if he has conditions of that sort."

Despite so much focus being directed towards the Caribbean's first World Cup, Lara refrained from talking strategies. "After this series, we head back to the Caribbean, where we have regional cricket to play, and there's a camp before the World Cup. This particular series is paramount to us before the World Cup. We needed to get some sort of international cricket under our belt, and this is what we're doing at present.

"Having a little break before that is good, too, and I think we can get back well. The way the World Cup is structured, it allows you a couple of practice games, and some against the minnows to get you moving ahead of the main stage. We're well on course as far as our preparation goes. It's just a matter of staying fit, everyone staying together, and having the right group around."

Lara was also eager to point out the aggressive streak in India. "I'm not going to compare what I saw back then [in the ICC Champions Trophy and in Malaysia] but what I can tell you now is that they look hungry. They look like a team desperate for wins. Their results haven't been good in the recent past, and leading up to the World Cup, with a billion people following you, you need to leave them with some sort of hope going into that tournament.

"They were finalists four years ago, and know what they need to do as far as getting their act together goes; they've reshuffled a few players to try and get the right mix come March. I must commend them for the sort of character they've shown over the last week or so, because they were destroyed in South Africa and didn't do too well in the ICC Champions Trophy. India is a team you never take lightly

 

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