LEGENDARY off-spinner Lance Gibbs believes it is now time for the West Indies to install a new captain in place of Brian Lara.
Gibbs, who took 309 wickets in 79 Tests for the West Indies before retiring from the international scene in 1976, feels the Windies have gone as far as they can under Lara with this week's opening Test defeat to England at Lord's being the final straw for the 69-year-old.
"Brian is making too many mistakes which is obvious for everyone to see," Gibbs told Caribbean radio station Klas Sports. "Sometimes it appears that he believes he is above the game."
"I think he should be replaced as captain, but the problem is that I don't know if he will support the person who replaces him. He can be very difficult; I have managed him. I happen to believe that the West Indies Cricket Board is not going to take the job from him. I think he has to give it up.
"Any time the West Indies lose, I cry," added Gibbs.
"I don't know if these fellas are realising the pain that they bring to some of the fellas who played this game at the highest level," he told Barbados Nation Online.
"Our cricketers must have sufficient skills to know that we don't have to play at every ball. We must play a ball on its merit. They've got to be able to graft and to use their cricket ability."
Lara has come under heavy criticism following his side's 210-run defeat to England at Lord's.
The world record-holder won the toss, but after deciding to field first on a flat wicket, saw England take control of the match after running up a mammoth 568 in their first innings.
The second Test is scheduled to start in Birmingham today.