Lara May Miss First Test Against India

West Indies champion batsman Brian Lara will miss the entire Busta Cup competition and most likely miss the first Test against the visiting Indians, which is scheduled for April 11.

According to media reports, Lara is unlikely to pick up a bat for at least another month and does not expect to play any domestic Busta Cup matches for Trinidad and Tobago this season.

Lara, who is recovering from a fractured elbow, hopes he will be able to play some part in the Test and one-day series at home to India in April. "However, the signs are not immediately encouraging for fans hoping to see him feature in the first Test on 11 April," the BBC Online reported.

"I don't know if I'll be able to play for Trinidad and Tobago for the rest of the season," Lara told reporters. "The elbow is coming along but it still has some way to go. I think it'll be another four to six weeks before I can even think of picking up a bat again."

While the injury is improving, he awaits the doctor's green light to resume playing and in any event he is not yet able to straighten the elbow fully. "I have to work to get it to straighten before I can think of doing strengthening exercises for the arm," he said. "However, the elbow is better than people think it is."