I picked myself for England tour: Lara
By Orin Davidson in Barbados
Stabroek News
April 23, 2007
Despite wide-ranging speculation that the West Indies selectors might have influenced his decision to abruptly end his career, Brian Lara played down the rumors of being axed from the team for the upcoming tour of England with a straight bat on Saturday.
"No I don't know anything about any selection, I know I sat with the selectors in Antigua to pick the team for England and of course, I picked myself. That's all I know at this present time, said the retired captain when asked directly on the issue after his team lost to England at Kensington Oval.
Since he, made a surprise announcement to retire from all forms of the game on Thursday, the feeling became strong that the selection panel was not in favor of Lara carrying on as a Test player, even though he had stated his intention to continue his career in the longer form of the game.
Lara said he had informed West Indies cricket Board President Ken Gordon about his plans and that they had been accepted.
It was felt that even playing under a new test captain, Lara's presence would have disrupted the influence of his successor in the same manner former batting great Vivian Richards was discarded.
Richards was succeeded as captain by Richie Richardson and although he stated his desire to play in the 1992 World Cup, he was omitted because of the selectors' fears he might disrupt Richardson's work.
Gordon raised further speculation when he dodged questions on the Lara issue in an interview published Saturday in the Trinidad Express in which Gordon stated that he had had informal discussions on the issue with the selectors but declined to elaborate.
Gordon reportedly said he wanted Lara to play in at least the England tour beginning in two weeks time. But Lara explained that Gordon did not attempt to change his mind.
"I thought long and hard about the decision and discussed it with a number of important persons," he said.
Those persons included Gordon himself, ex-playing great, Sir Garfield Sobers, and noted cricket historian Professor Hillary Beckles.
"I think they understand my decision and know that I have West Indies cricket at heart," Lara said.
Guyana's Ramnaresh Sarwan is tipped to replace Lara as captain, but the incumbent vice-captain was given a fair but not overwhelming endorsement by the latter.
"He has been around for quite some time; he has been vice-captain under two captains, me and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Of course he would have gained a lot of experience over a period of time, Lara said of Sarwan adding… "let's see who the West Indies Cricket Board puts in charge. I am going to be in full support of that individual, I don't what to persuade that decision, it's totally up to them."
The champion batsman also had some words of wisdom for his players, calling for a more professional approach to the sport.
"The players definitely need to know that the game needs to be played with a lot of passion, a lot of commitment," he urged.
Lara said those feelings were influenced following advice from Trinidad and Tobago's world renowned footballer Dwight Yorke
"I spoke to Dwight Yorke before the South Africa game, he said……`tell your players it's not the will to win, it's the will to prepare to win, that is where I would love to see the guys spend a lot of time working on their game before they get out into the middle,'" Lara implored.
He also made reference to the words of another sports great.
"Michael Jordan said he practiced so hard that when he got into the game it was cruise control," Lara said.
Lara's career ended in a major disappointment Satur-day when he failed to get a big score against England in the team's final Super Eights match of the current World Cup competition.
The captain was run out in a mix up with Marlon Samuels for 18 when seemed well set for a big score.
Yet Lara had an enjoyable day as he was given a massive reception whenever he appeared on the field and was heavily mobbed during a farewell walk around the Oval after play.
It was a fitting send off for a player who for the better part of his career was not only the Prince-of-Port of Spain but also the King of West Indies cricket.