Lara confident four bowlers can dismiss Australia twice
- wants pitch with something in it for his pacers
By Sean Devers
in Barbados
Stabroek News
May 1, 2003
The mighty Australians lead the West Indies 2-0 in the four-Test series going into today’s third Test here in Bridgetown.
The Aussies, strengthened by the arrival of ace paceman Glen McGrath, are aiming for a series whitewash while the West Indies are hoping for a victory on their favourite hunting ground to salvage some pride.
The home team has been strengthened by the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs and opener Chris Gayle.
However, it is the impotent bowling attack, spearheaded by a sub-standard looking Mervin Dillon, that is the biggest worry for the Brian Lara led side.
While five West Indian centuries have been recorded in the first two Tests, many feel the bowling attack is short one specialist bowler and that Dillon should be dropped.
Lara said after the team’s final practice session at the 3W’s Oval yesterday that he is confident that four bowlers are enough to dismiss the Aussies. He also said he would like a pitch that will assist his fast bowlers as his side aims to win the remaining matches and level the series.
“I can promise you that we are not going into this game with five bowlers and I am confident that four bowlers can dismiss Australia twice if they all play to their full potential,” Lara said
The visitors have declared three times from their four innings in the series so far including twice in the last Test.
But the West Indies captain who will celebrate his 34th birthday tomorrow is expecting an improved performance from his bowlers.
“We have had only one really good bowling session and that was in Guyana in the Australia first innings. But we have had little periods when the guys bowled well and really looked good. What we have to do is pull it together. Obviously if we pick four bowlers we will think that that is enough to get Australia out. It’s all a matter of putting the ball in the right spot consistently,” the star left-hander explained.
“I have all confidence that our four bowlers can do the job. It has not happened as yet but it will eventually. I am not making excuses but it is always tough work against the Australians but I have to back my brigade and I am looking forward to putting them out there and getting the Australians out,” Lara said.
“With four innings gone I think our batsmen should sort themselves out. But at 2-0 down we will want to strengthen our bowling a bit. Chanderpaul is one of our top batsmen so his return gives us the luxury of playing four bowlers unlike in Trinidad when we used just three fast bowlers and Bernard as the all-rounder to strengthen the batting,” the Windies skipper opined.
But when asked what type of pitch he would like for today’s game the double world record holder with two tons in the series already said he wanted a good cricket track with ‘something’ in it for his pacers.
“Yes they have Brett Lee but if he bowls short you want to get under it as it climbs. A good batting surface is great, but bowlers win matches and I guess if our bowlers get the opportunity to bend their backs and get something out of the track then that will also be good,” Lara pointed out.
Asked what Dillon has to do to improve Lara said simply: “play cricket.” This suggests that the Trinidad pacer will be in the starting eleven with Vasbert Drakes and both Tino Best and Jermaine Lawson.
Lara said he has always liked the idea of a spinner in his team and has relied on a spinner when captaining Trinidad and Tobago. He, however added that the nature of the pitch could decide if off spinner Omari Banks makes his debut today.
“Dillon knows his role as the leading bowler in the team and he, like all the bowlers, know they have to step up. It’s OK when you are not getting wickets but then you have to keep things tight. The Australians scored much too quickly in Trinidad and the bowlers all accepted that. They put their hands up and said things will have to be different if we are to do well. I expect everybody, not just Dillon, to pull their weight in the team,” disclosed Lara.
Jacobs practised with the team yesterday but did not wicket-keep but Lara said the Antiguan is available for selection and it will be up to Jacobs to decide if he feels fit enough to play this morning.
Some feel the in-form Daren Ganga should open the batting with Gayle after Devon Smith recorded a double duck in his last match.
Lara indicated that would have been a consideration when the selectors sat down last evening to pick the final eleven. He, however, added that Ganga has been batting really well at number three where he scored two back to back hundreds and the mindset of the player has to taken into consideration before changing his position in the order.
Lara also welcomed the return of Galye. “We had some problems with the opening partnerships in the first two games and the addition of Gayle is going to be vital. He got a hundred against the Australians in the UWI game which is good for him and the team,”said Lara, who is also a part of the selection panel.
The West Indies skipper feels that Australia can be beaten if his team win more sessions.
“If we want to beat them we have to play more consistent cricket and win more sessions. We have been winning a session and they have been winning two. We have to command an entire day’s play and put them on the back foot,” Lara revealed
“One thing I know for sure is that they are professionals. You saw it on the fifth day in Trinidad when they did not know what happened before lunch but stepped up a gear after the break and West Indies collapsed. If we play good cricket for a couple of sessions or a day that will do the job,” said Lara.
Lara who scored eight of his 20 test centuries against Australia said people must remember that his young team was playing against the best team in the world in tests and One day Internationals.
“They have very few loop holes and don’t let up. We have got to play good, hard, consistent cricket every single session,” Lara stressed.
“I think the young guys have represented themselves pretty well....maybe not with the success they expect on the field but I think their approach to the game was very professional. I am seeing a great future for them,” Lara predicted.
Quizzed on his past term of captain as compared to this one Lara said he is happier now although the results might indicate two defeats.
“We had a couple of great fast bowlers back then...we had some seasoned batsmen, some seasoned cricketers around. But at present this is the beginning of something that could be very special. We have got the youngest collection of West Indies players ever and that arguers well for us. I am definitely more excited about this team than I was three or four years ago,” the skipper disclosed.
On the return of McGrath Lara said “We are playing eleven other players but I think personally....my advice...seeing we have set a standard, especially in the batting....is to build from there. We batted well in all four innings so far. Unfortunately in the first test in Guyana before lunch on the first day we batted poorly which set up the Australian win.
“Had we limited Australia’s run rate in Trinidad the game might have ended in a draw or a different result. So I am thinking about that standard we have set...We have taken them to five day and if we go back to four then it should be a West Indies result. We have gone this far so now we are looking to go all the way. It can be done,” a confident Lara stated.