Lara: Let's Support Bennett King

Mon, Nov 8, '04

West Indies captain Brian Lara has called on cricket fans around the Caribbean to throw their support behind new coach Bennett King.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Lara spoke for the first time on the appointment of the Australian coach and insisted that King would only succeed if he gets the full backing of the whole Caribbean.

"I don't know the man, but I'm looking forward to working with him," Lara said.

"There are lots of people around the Caribbean who have lots to offer, but we will only be going in the right direction as long as we all give the coach support. We have to make sure that support comes from players and all the administrators," Lara added.

"The new coach has got to bring in the right attitude and he has all the right attributes to do that. He will be looking to make an early statement when we go to Australia in January and he wants to let people around the world know that winning the Champions Trophy was not a fluke."

The master batsman brushed aside chatter that the appointment of a foreigner would not sit well with him. "I've worked with foreign coaches before and I know it will be important to get on quickly and build up a good relationship with him," Lara said.

Lara also gave the thumbs-up to the appointment of Sir Garfield Sobers as technical consultant. Lara, who is extremely close to the West Indies legend, said "It's good to have him around finally...He was not directly involved before and for him to become more active can only be for the better of West Indian cricket. He is a very knowledgeable and approachable man."