Tym Glaser THE END appears nigh for Brian Lara's tenure as captain of the West Indies cricket team.
Only an unlikely series victory in England or an honourable draw should see this generation's pre-eminent batsman continue in the region's most prestigious sporting role.
Lara's reign has not been as horrific as one might expect. Thirty-six Tests in charge have reaped 10 victories, seven draws and 19 losses. His 10 full series in command have provided him with a record of four wins, five losses and one draw not Steve Waugh but not really too shabby even if two of those victories were over Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
The responsibility also seems to sit well with the Trinidadian. His overall batting average is 53.71 but as skipper it skyrockets to a whopping 62.70.
Also, it's not Lara's fault that his stellar career has coincided with a West Indian cricket rut where he has been forced to babysit a hodge-podge of talented but raw cricketers.
However, circumstance and stats can't cover the fact that the team has gone nowhere but backwards since his first appointment in 1997 and second spell from 2002.
As unpalatable as it is, the West Indies ranking as the third worst team in the game ahead of only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh is appropriate.
BEST CRICKET MIND
Lara has the best cricket mind in the side but it is simply not translating into team performance. It's easy to question some of his decisions and often he appears too clever for his own good, but that's not the reason why he should step aside.
Simply stated, nothing is growing in the shadow of his brilliance and captaincy.
With the possible exception of heir-apparent Ramnaresh Sarwan, no player has shown palpable improvement. Some like Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul feast upon the weak but struggle against the strong sides. Newcomers like the Smiths, Dwayne and Devon, blaze brightly before opponents work them out.
The bowling, excepting the odd spurts, has been consistently woeful and rudderless.
Coach Gus Logie must take his share of the blame but Lara's the figurehead and tangible leader.
He made the less than brave vow after a draw against Bangladesh earlier this year that he would step down as captain if the side did not win the second and decisive Test at Sabina Park.
The team did win that match against a side that has not won a solitary Test and apparently saved the skipper's job.
Maybe Lara should make that vow now in England; it would certainly carry more weight and make sense.
Could Sarwan, or anyone else for that matter, do a better job than Lara?
Who knows? But it's worth trying. Anything is to get out of the mire.
