Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation

We just didn't bat properly, says Lara

This article is more than 20 years old
John Stern at Sabina Park
Lara says humilating defeat is just one-off

The daily reggae party in the Mound Stand began early yesterday as Jamaicans tried to drown their sorrows in the face of West Indies' greatest Test humiliation.

"The show must go on, no matter what," bellowed the DJ before cranking up Bob Marley's Three Little Birds: "Don't worry about a thing". The mood among seasoned observers at Sabina Park was one of phlegmatic resignation. "We're desensitised to it now," said one. "Seen it all before," was another reaction.

Brian Lara, the captain who made a duck in the second innings, did his best to put on a brave face but it was deeply unconvincing. Critics of West Indies cricket believe that there are talented players available who are simply not harnessed properly; that the problems stem from a lack of leadership at playing and administrative level.

"I can't explain it and in a way these things don't need explaining," said a stone-faced Lara. Recently he said things could not get any worse for West Indies when they were bowled out for 54 in a one-day international in South Africa. He might care to think again.

"We have to see this as a one-off situation and rally as a team," he said. "We have to take responsibility and move on. There are three Tests to play and that is the positive thing. We have got a chance to come back. Harmison bowled well but this was nothing great on the part of England. We just didn't bat properly."

He pleaded with the fans for patience, saying: "All members of the team understand that we played bad cricket today. We have only ourselves to blame. We have to put this behind us and I hope people can do the same. We can still come back."

The second Test starts on Friday at Port of Spain, Trinidad, where the pressure is on Lara to perform in front of his home crowd. Along with the coach Gus Logie, he now has a monumental task to lift this young side. "The experienced players in the team have to stand up and be counted now," Lara said.

Most viewed

Most viewed