Another Mystery Illness Strikes Lara
The buzz around Kensington Oval today is the non-appearance of Brian Lara at his customary number four slot in the West Indies batting line-up and word that another 'mystery illness' had stricken the captain.
Officially, West Indies management is keeping a tight lid on details of Lara's illness, much the same way they did after the ICC Champions Trophy tournament when he was diagnosed with what manager Ricky Skerritt described as "suspected hepatitis." Skerritt's public use of the word 'hepatitis' angered the Trinidadian and forced the WICB to refuse any comment on the nature of the illness.
It appears the board will take the same "no comment" stance this time around. "Brian's not feeling well and he's resting at the hotel. He would be available to bat if we need him," Skerritt told CaribbeanCricket.com at Tea. His comments were in sharp contrast to reports floating around all day that the champion batsman was down with chickenpox, the highly contageous virus that ruled pacer Jermaine Lawson out of the Trinidad Test.
Skerritt sidestepped direct queries related to chickenpox, insisting Lara was simply "not feeling well enough" to come to the ground today. "I'm not in a position to get into details about the nature of the illness," the manager said.
Lara spent most of the second day (Saturday) off the field with what was described as the 'flu and on Sunday, he was examined by a doctor at the team's Accra Beach hotel and told to stay away from the ground and rest. He was also running a temperature.
If chickenpox is the diagnosis, it's a safe bet Lara will miss the rest of this match and the Antigua Test which starts on May 9.
If chickenpox is confirmed, the WICB would be hard pressed to explain this one away. Back on April 15, when Lawson was diagnosed with chickenpox, Skerritt insisted the necessary precautions had been made to protect the team.
Skerritt said today the players are "under a medical strategy" but he would not explain what that meant. Asked directly if the players had been vaccinated against the varicella zoster, which causes chickenpox, he again demurred. "The team is under a medical strategy. That's all I can tell you at this time," he said.
But, there's a lot to answer for if Lara has chickenpox. The disease was first spotted in West Indies cricket circles during the middle rounds of the Carib Beer competition when Jamaican all-rounder Ricardo Powell was sent back to Trinidad, where he lives, after he contracted the virus.
After that, the next victims were Jamaican pacers Darren Powell and Lawson. Because it is highly contageous, doctors routinely quarentine chickenpox victims but, in the case of Lawson, it is not even clear if he avoided any contact with his teammates. Team sources say Lawson remained with the team in Trinidad & Tobago throughout the second Test because BWIA officials refused to have him fly back to Jamaica.
What is also unclear is whether vaccinations were included in Skerritt's "medical strategy". In the U.S. and Canada, a vaccine is recommended and available (it costs about US$150) for adults. It has been more than a month since Ricardo Powell was the first reported case of chickenpox so it would be inexcusable for the WICB to not have the entire team vaccinated.
Skerritt's "medical strategy" might well include vaccinations but his decision to remain mum on details have prompted wild speculation.
For now, Lara's illness remains a mystery. Not the first time.
* At the time of posting this story, Lara had appeared at the crease to bat for the West Indies in the number eight spot.