Lara: Pakistan Can Crack
On Friday November 10th captain Brian Lara faced the media ahead of the West Indies first test against Pakistan in Lahore. Following are excerpts from his responses.
On how he views this test match:
It's a very important test match for us, first time back in Pakistan in nine years so we're looking forward to it. We've played a few test matches for this year in New Zealand and against India in the Caribbean and we're looking forward to these three test matches.
A lot of people are concentrating on the one day game at the moment with the World Cup coming up and the ICC Championship just finished but we all know that test cricket is really what it's all about. These three test matches are of utmost importance and we are going in with the confidence we?ve gained in the one day arena.
On the pitch:
I feel there is something for both pace and spin, of course the pitch is going to deteriorate over a period of time and the likes of (Danish) Kaneria, (Dave) Mohammed and (Omari) Banks and Chris Gayle will have to be given consideration throughout the test match. All in all it looks a decent pitch to start with, I expect some deterioration and maybe the pitch playing lower as we go along.
On his own fitness:
I'm getting back to full fitness (after suffering a lower back spasm in the ICC Champions Trophy), I've been running around without any great pain and I am getting back to where I want to be. Unfortunately it happened early in the ICC Trophy which was a hindrance to my well being. Chris Gayle and (Shiv) Chanderpaul are coming back from stomach bugs so with another 24 hours to go they would be fine. They are professionals and they know exactly what is expected of them.
On whether the team's inexperience will make it difficult to make the adjustment to test cricket:
The core of the team isn't young, they may be young in age but not experience, the likes of (Ramnaresh) Sarwan, (Chris) Gayle, (Corey) Collymore and (Fidel) Edwards have been around for a period of time so we do expect them to make that switch easily.
The guys do enjoy playing test cricket so the switch back should not be a major problem. I expect them to show the professionalism needed to do that. We knew for a fact that we were going on a tour where there would be two months of one day internationals with four or five days break before the test matches so the guys have adapted quickly and I expect no sort of excuses when we get out on the field.
On whether the team is confident of defeating Pakistan:
I feel we have it in us to beat Pakistan, they are playing at home and they are a tough opposition at home but if we play very good cricket, competitive cricket consistently over the five day period of the test match I think we can get a favorable result.
On whether he is disappointed that the Windies did not win more during his career:
Of course you feel disappointed that during your career the decline of West Indies cricket has been apparent. It's a situation and opportunity now for us to dig ourselves out of that hole. I'm very optimistic about the future, the one day game shows that we are making some strides and this a great opportunity to be a west indies team to beat paksitan in Pakistan. I do have belief in the team that we can pull it off.
On how he rates the Pakistan team:
They are a very good team especially at home, we know you have to play extra hard when you are playing them at home because they are a major force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately for them they have two of their strike bowlers missing but I still feel they have the armory to come out there and beat international teams in Pakistan. I do rate them very highly. They are going to be a tough opposition and under Inzamam (Ul Haq) I am sure they are going to be well prepared.
On whether there is any chink in Pakistan's armor:
I think one of the problems is putting them under pressure. They have a good all round team, they have spin, they have pace and their batting is very solid but put them under pressure and they can crack. That?s what we?ll try to do, get in a couple of early blows and see if we can get them under pressure. That would be our aim, to get on top early and to stay on top.