Lara open-minded about batting Role
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LONDON (UK): West Indies captain Brian Lara said Monday he was ready to continue as an opening batsman in one-day cricket if it was in the best interests of his side.

Left-hander Lara sprung a surprise by opening in Saturday's NatWest Series triangular match against New Zealand.

Although his side lost the match, Lara's decision to open in a one-dayer for the first time in nearly five years was a success with the 35-year-old Trinidad and Tobago star notching a run-a-ball 58.

Ball in Lara's Court

Now Lara has to decide whether to stay at the top of the order for Tuesday's crunch series game against England at Lord's -a match that if his side win will see into Saturday's Lord's final against New Zealand, who have already qualified.

All the completed matches in the competition so far have been won by the team batting second, with top-order batsmen struggling to cope with the greater assistance that English pitches give seam bowlers early on compared to flatter tracks in other parts of the world.

Backdrop

England captain Michael Vaughan has suffered as a one-day opener lately, managing just 39 runs in four tournament innings and Lara told reporters at Lord's on Monday: "It has been a very negative area in most of the games so far.

"England have been worrying if Michael Vaughan should open or not. With Shivnarine Chanderpaul opening and Dwayne Smith batting at three there was a little bit of discomfort there.

"I feel very confident about my batting whatever position I bat in and if I can go and show the example and maybe lay the foundation within the game plan that is good - whoever can do it should do it."

But the downside of Lara's decision to open was seen in Saturday's reverse against New Zealand at Cardiff.

After his innings had helped propelled the team to a strong position of 180 for three in the 37th over, a Lara-less middle-order folded with the West Indies losing their last seven wickets for just 36 runs.

ICC Champions Trophy

One-day internationals are increasingly being won by the side batting second and Lara, speaking ahead of September's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in England, said: "The team batting second realise that conditions are not the same, the pitch has got drier, is not as fresh as 10.45 (0945GMT when day
games in England start) in the morning and go in with a lot more confidence.

"It is not that the team batting first are lacking confidence, it is just the conditions are slightly better.

"Even if there were 300 runs on the board I feel that the team batting second would fancy getting it."

Prospects

If England win on Tuesday, but fail to collect a bonus point, West Indies will still be alive ahead of the final group match against New Zealand at the Hampshire Rose Bowl on Thursday.

Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs is fit again after a calf injury but pace bowler Ravi Rampaul (shin splints) is still out and his fellow quick Jermaine Lawson, missed training Monday due to flu.●