Steve Harmison said last night that he believes he now has a psychological edge over the West Indies batsmen after taking 14 wickets in three innings against them. "If you take wickets against them, then there's going to be more in their mind than in yours," he said after taking five wickets on the first day of the second Test.
One of those wickets was Brian Lara for a duck. Lara could not even bear to look at umpire Billy Bowden after he gloved a Harmison bouncer to gully. He turned away towards square-leg as if in denial. For the first time in his Test career he had made consecutive ducks. Compared with his overall Test average of over 50, his average on his home ground in Port of Spain is only 40 and he has made only one hundred.
"Getting Lara out probably extended my spell by four or five overs," added Harmison. "I was on such a high." The pressure on Lara has been rising all week and it certainly did not diminish yesterday.
In his newspaper column for the Trinidad Guardian Lara threw down the gauntlet to his public. "Now it is up to you," Lara wrote, "to give us that unwavering support that has always been there for West Indies cricket through thick and thin." He obviously did not hear the boos that greeted his side at the end of the first Test in Jamaica.
Lara went on to explain that it almost did not feel as if they were playing at home because of the amount of support for England. "We have been invaded on and off the field and we as a people must support our troops."
Lara also speculated that the Port of Spain pitch might benefit the side bowling first. He was asked yesterday evening whether he stood by his decision to bat first. His response was to smile and stand up. "Of course I stand by it. We were 100 for none."
Although the pitch was not as lively as Sabina Park, Harmison preferred it to Jamaica. "Pitches like this suit me more because people can leave me comfortably on bouncier pitches," he said.
The call to arms "Rally Round the West Indies" roared out of the sound system in the Trini Posse stand and the welcome Lara received was as warm as the spicy rotis on sale.
Lara said recently that, as he approaches 35, he would prefer to start playing a more supporting role in the side. He pointed out that at the same age Viv Richards was sliding down the order from No3 to No6.
But West Indies need Lara more than ever now. They need leadership both on and off the field. They need his runs, they need tactical bravery and the players need protection against the fearsome criticism from public and also the former West Indies greats who are queueing up to lambast the team.
One such tirade came from the former opening batsman Desmond Haynes, guest speaker at the annual dinner of the West Indies Players' Association where Lara was garlanded as the West Indies player of 2003.
Haynes called for "Operation Fight-back" before launching a scathing attack on cricket in the Caribbean. "There are so many things that have gone wrong with our cricket and history will be replete with examples of the misfortunes, the foul-ups and the blunders," he said. "In fact, the West Indies Cricket Board will probably be seen as taking the majority of the blame. It is no secret the board has been motionless in updating the structure of cricket in the region to make it more modern, competitive and sustaining. I want you to live the passion, answer the call and get in the game."
Lara added: "Harmison has bowled well but this is something we have to climb out of. I have played 104 Tests, I think I know how to get out of this situation. I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to bat." Harmison will be looking forward equally to bowling to him.