CAPE TOWN, South Africa - The West Indies cricketers, trailing South Africa 2-0 in their four-match Test series, arrived in Cape Town yesterday afternoon anxious to reverse the home team's winning trend when the third Test starts tomorrow at Newlands.
South Africa won the first Test in Johannesburg by 189 runs and the second in Durban by an innings and 65 runs, but Lara insists they will be diligent and change their fortunes for the new year.
"I think the start of 2004 in South Africa is going to be good for us," Lara said.
The West Indies were crushed 5-0 on their last trip to South Africa in 1998-1999 and Lara sharply rejected the idea of a repeat when questioned Monday evening at the second Test post-match press conference.
"There's no chance of a whitewash," he said.
Lara is encouraged by the resilience his batting line-up has been showing.
He said while the West Indies’ bowling attack is falling short, the batting is holding up. He pointed to their fighting revival from 17 for four to 264 all out - led by his own 72, Ridley Jacobs (58) and Vasbert Drakes (67) - in Durban, followed by second innings centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
BOWLING PROBLEM
"We're improving, we are getting the runs necessary (to be competitive), our fault is plain in front of us; we have a bowling problem and we've got to get that together," he said.
Even so, apart from Daren Ganga's first Test 60 (first innings), the Trinidadian right-hander and his opening partner Wavell Hinds have failed so far in the series and could have been the target of Lara's comments that struggling batsmen must find form to help the recovery process.
"A couple guys are a bit out of form and we have to find a way to get them in form, or maybe find players who can bridge the gap," Lara said.
The Newlands ground is expected to have pace and bounce for faster bowlers, but it is unclear whether there will be changes in the line-up.
A full net session has been planned for New Year's Day.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of the Johannesburg Test and missed the Durban assignment, is struggling to get fit for tomorrow.
Corey Collymore also has a hamstring problem and Lara hinted that they might decide to use Gayle.
"Chris Gayle and Corey Collymore are coming on well, there is still time for them to improve even more. We would like them honestly at full fitness, not going in 90, 95 (per cent fit), maybe Chris Gayle can get away with it as a batter, fielding at slip," Lara said.
Chanderpaul (thigh strain) is also looking to get himself fully fit for tomorrow.
"These are very key players in our Test team and we would love to be able to select from all 16 players come January 2," Lara said.