Staff Writer – Archi
West Indies batting great Brian Lara would not like to take up some role in the West Indian cricket administration in the near future, Lara was of the view that his involvement either as a mentor or coach of the West Indies team wouldn’t make much difference to the side.
“Nothing can be done at the team level to improve the performance of the West Indies. I think our problem is very deep-rooted. Our infrastructure is pretty average and administratively we are not doing a good job. I don’t believe any one person can create any magic at the top level and bring about a change in performances. The entire system needs an overhaul,” he said during a visit to India on Wednesday.
“I would love to make a difference but I feel it has got to be from the ground up. You need a good administrative board to work in harmony with you. Hopefully sometime in the near future we will be able to do that.”
As for the talent in the Caribbean, Lara feels it is there in abundance. “I still believe that West Indies players are some of the most talented players in the world and especially the teenagers that are coming in. What we tend to do in the West Indies is that we take very good talent and turn it into mediocre talent,” Lara said.
Brian Lara. Photo courtesy www.topnews.in
Reacting to a suggestion that he may have retired a little too early in his career, Lara said, “I felt it was the right time to leave. I may not have accomplished a couple of records but I really didn’t go there to bat for records. Scoring 12,000 runs was not at all important. I still believe that I enjoyed playing with the teams I played with.”
He is however, ready to bet on Team India in the coming World T20 meet early next year.
Notwithstanding their inconsistent results in recent times, Lara believes Team India will be hard to beat at home.
Although India are ranked a lowly sixth in the current World Twenty20 rankings, the stylish left-hander reasoned that the Indian team is a dangerous side while playing at home. “They have proved that at the 2011 World Cup,” Lara said during a visit to India this week.
Lara said he expects India to be favourites in the Twenty20 World Cup despite the home pressure factor. “Home pressure, especially in a country like India where cricket is followed passionately, is bound to be there. But I think the guys have grown a lot and know how to handle such situations. I believe they have a very good chance in the World Cup. And then they have very exciting and versatile players,” he said.
Lara said he enjoys being in India. “Even during my playing days, India was a place where I really loved coming to. I love the Indian people for the passion they carry through their life every single day. Some of my very special friends Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are wonderful examples of Indians with great passion.”
Have a look at Lara’s greatest innings below:
