Missing Lara's 213 at Sabina

For context, let us go back a few months to the West Indies’ tour of South Africa. Framed by a rancorous standoff between players and the board over pay that delayed the start of the series, a distracted team was humiliated 0-5 in the Tests and 1-6 in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Following the team’s miserable showing, and coming into the Australian series soon afterwards, Captain Lara was placed on a two-game probation by the board.

While Lara’s batting spot was not in question, his hold on the captaincy was extremely tenuous and became even more so after a dreadful start to the series in Trinidad and Tobago. Chasing 363 in the fourth innings, the Caribbean side fell in a heap for 51, blown away by Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie.

The West Indies actually did well to dismiss Australia for 256 on that first day in Jamaica. Losing four wickets by the close was bad, but what caused me despair was the feeling that our batting was being completely overpowered. Nobody seemed capable of standing up to McGrath, who was at his snarling, skillful best.

I hardly think I need to state that there is no way I was including Lara in the group of overawed batters. We all knew he wielded the most dazzling blade in the game. But he wasn’t showing purposeful form of late and I didn’t expect much of a turnaround. Like a devout man who came to doubt his faith, I held out little hope, even with the game’s best batter in the ranks.

https://garfieldrobinson1.substack.com/p/my-biggest-cricketing-regret