Present crop of West Indies players is the right group – Brian Lara

Former cricketer and batting legend Brian Lara has backed the current West Indian group of players. The stalwart feels that the present mix of cricketers is heading in the right direction. Lara has voluntarily joined the ongoing preparation camp of West Indies before they face India in the home two-match Test series.

Speaking with West Indies Cricket on Tuesday (20th August), Lara gave his insights on the current group of players and his opinion of them.

Legend speaks

“I decided to join the camp simply because I feel this present crop of West Indies players, especially in the Test arena, is the right group of players. The talent that’s within is there. The performance against England to win a series at home, I think is the start of something really good for us. We must lay the foundation at home first before we travel abroad in foreign conditions to sort of take command of situations,” Lara said.

The record-holder of the highest individual score in both Test (400 not out) and first-class (502 not out) cricket was referring to the three-match Test series that took place in the Caribbean earlier this year.  West Indies secured two massive wins over England to clinch the series 2-1.

Lara added, “I’m hoping that I can impart some type of knowledge, some of my experiences in the past to the young batsmen especially that we have in the team to see if we can get a little bit more out of them because it’s necessary. It’s a good group of young players, we just have to get them thinking in the right way.”

Preparing mentally

The one key area where the West Indian legend felt that the team needed to work more was mental preparation which is essential to compete and dominate five days of a Test match.

“Where I feel I can make an impact is their mental approach to the game. I feel as if I was to strike on one thing that I was decent at was mentally where I prepared myself strongly. The practical side is there for the young players but I feel mentally they can grow a little bit and learn a little bit more,” Lara said.

The first Test between West Indies and India begins on 22nd August, Wednesday in Antigua.