Asked if Adams can help spark a turnaround in WI cricket, Lara, speaking during the launch of his island-wide Cricket Tour at the Barataria Oval on Thursday, jokingly replied, “as long as he doesn’t take it like his batting, very defensive.” Lara stressed, “I think Jimmy’s got to be very authoritative in terms of his approach and get what he needs if he thinks he’s going to make a difference in West Indies cricket. I’m banking on him.
“I know Jimmy since youth days and he’s very knowledgeable, but a bit reserved. I’m hoping that (he sees) his job as something that he has to really pioneer a move for change in West Indies cricket.” As far as the regional game is concerned, Lara made it clear that “talent in the Caribbean has never been an issue.”
He said, “what it is, is bridging that gap between being a talented teenager and what the West Indies have created in terms of a support. We don’t have that professionalism in West Indies where you can take the talent and make sure that when they can get to the international level, that it’s ready to go. We see people in Australia and England, and they take mediocre talent and all of a sudden they’re on the world stage and doing very well. I say it all the time, we take great talent and make it mediocre.”
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