Lara: Time to Dig Deep
"You've got to calm your mind first, then you'll find that your body relaxes." That was my Pilates teacher on Monday night instructing a newbie on how to get into the correct posture for the challenging exercises.That's almost the same message that West Indies captain Brian Lara will give to his team mates – many of them newbies - ahead of Tuesday's opening Cricket World Cup 2007 match against Pakistan.
Asked during a pre-match press conference at Kensington Park what he will be stressing to his players before the big occasion, Lara said "the most important thing today (Monday) and even before the game starts tomorrow (Tuesday), is to relax."
Everyone is perhaps nervous for the West Indies team. Spectators who travelled to Trelawny for a competitive game last Friday against the Indians must have chewed off their fingernails by now. Lara quite rightly called that match "a farce" and said it was probably what was needed before the opening match. "We were 32-2 then 62-8; that's not cricket, but if it has to happen, best it happens before the tournament starts," reasoned the West Indies captain.
Nerves are an important part of any sportsman's build up, says Lara, and even after four World Cups and 16 years of international cricket, the butterflies still do flutter. He said "definitely there will be a lot of nerves for me tomorrow (Tuesday). It's just matter of dealing with it." How he had dealt with it in the past is by rising to the occasion. "It brings out the best in me," warned the left handed batsman.
If the world record holder still experiences nervousness, imagine what it might be like for Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, and Dwayne Smith, all who have never played in a Cricket World Cup at this level.
Denesh Ramdin and Lendl Simmons can use the Youth World Cup Finals for inspiration going into this important match. For most of the others, the Champions Trophy final in 2006 would have offered some preparation. For Ian Bradshaw, that incredible 2004 moment in England in the same tournament must be something he can draw on, to help visualize the possibilities – victory against Pakistan in what promises to be an exciting match up.
According to Lara, the Sabina Park pitch looks a very good one. "It has a little bit of grass; I don't know if it is going to be there tomorrow, but all in all it looks like a good pitch for 100 overs," he told journalists on Monday. The last time West Indies faced Pakistan in an ODI at this ground was on March 23, 1993. Victory for the West Indies by four wickets was the result.
West Indies last played at Sabina Park in 2006, against India. Ramnaresh Sarwan's 98* in a low scoring encounter, Ian Bradshaw's three wickets and Dwayne Bravo's heroics in the last over of the match to seal victory, are some of the moments that the team must focus on to mentally prepare for Tuesday's opening.
Brian Lara said he will also be stressing that "everyone needs to be in their zone, everyone needs to be comfortable with their game. It's not the time where you're working on something or unhappy with a particular part of your game."
The captain's hope is also that the youngsters have the desire to win. "We've got a lot of younger players in for the first time, the second time, and I would love to see them get a hold of the World Cup in the very first match at Sabina Park and make it their own. It's just a matter of their desire, if they really want that sort of recognition; if they want to go out in a big way and put their name out there from the very beginning. I think there are a lot of young players, they want that, and that's great to have in the team."
For the players making their CWC debuts – the newbies – he especially had these words of advice. "You're playing international cricket; there must be a reason why you are here – your ability, and the fact that you must have performed to reach this level. Dig deep into your self confidence and make sure that you're well prepared coming out in the middle."
Only time will tell how deep they have dug for the challenges ahead. That time is now. Let the games begin!