PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
A DELIGHTED Brian Lara described it as mission accomplished as the West Indies edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in their two-match Test series.
In a column published yesterday in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, Lara said patience was key to his team's win of the Test series Sunday in Zimbabwe.
"Our goal coming here was to win the Test series and we have accomplished that, perhaps not as stylishly as we would have liked, but efficiently enough. During Zimbabwe's second innings our watchword was patience," Lara wrote.
"We had to be patient on such a pitch, putting the ball in the right areas, allowing the surface and the anxiety of the batsmen to do the rest, was all that was necessary. It worked quite well and I am proud of the guys for showing great character and team spirit," he said.
The left-hander said it was special for him personally to win his first away Test series as captain.
"My away record has been abysmal, seven away matches lost. I am sure that (former West Indies captain) Clive Lloyd is happy we are taking his figurine back to the Caribbean," Lara said, referring to a trophy named for Lloyd that went to the winner.
Lara also hinted that young pacer Ravi Rampaul will play a big role in the five-match one day series that begins Saturday in Bulawayo, as the West Indies look at possibly adopting a rotation system with fast bowlers.
"Corey Collymore has had two hard Test matches and must be in need of some rest," Lara said. "We were severely hampered with the loss of a bowler in each of the two Test matches, and we have to safeguard ourselves against that recurrence."
Lara also said the experience the 19-year-old Rampaul gains will help him prepare properly as Rampaul leads the West Indies Under-19 team at the upcoming Youth World Cup in Bangladesh in February.
TOUGH SERIES
Lara said the West Indies is bracing for a tough one-day series.
"Currently, Zimbabwe is a better one day team than a Test team and we will have to play at our best to capture this series as well. We consider them to be in good form at the moment," he said. "But it is important to note that a one day game is not always won by the better team, but by who plays better on the day."
After the one-day series, the team goes on to South Africa in early December to play four Tests and five one-day internationals.
Lara said he believes Wavell Hinds was the most consistent of the batsmen, and said the one-day series with Zimbabwe should give others a chance to step up, especially Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
