West Indies' Brian Lara lies on the ground after being hit by a ball bowled by Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar (top) during their ICC Champions Trophy one-day cricket semi-final match at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, on September 22, 2004. West Indies won the match by seven wickets. - Reuters
LONDON (Reuters)
WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara might need a few seconds to regain his nerve during today's Champions Trophy final against England but at least he will not have to face Shoaib Akhtar again.
Lara, who collapsed at the crease after being hit by a delivery from Pakistan pace bowler Akhtar in the semi-finals, told a news conference at The Oval:
"There may be a little psychological moment to get over but I'm not too
perturbed about it.
"It was the first time I had faced Shoaib and I'm glad I won't have to do it again on Saturday! I have faced England's bowlers many times and I know what to expect."
Lara was led off on Wednesday and watched the rest of the seven-wicket
victory over Pakistan from the pavilion.
"I was a bit dizzy, that's all. It was just a hit. I have been hit many times before. Nothing's broken. You just go straight back into the nets. It's finished, in the past."
Akhtar, nicknamed the 'Rawalpindi Express', is widely regarded as the fastest bowler in the world and has been timed at over 100 mph (160.9 kph).
Lara said he expected the final at The Oval to be close.
TREMENDOUS SUMMER
"England are on a high, they've had a tremendous summer. They would expect to finish in style but we are wounded and our players are hungry," he said.
"We have a long way to go to get better in the five-day game but attacking, flamboyant players can pay off in one-dayers and we have a lot of them."
England have beaten West Indies 7-0 in eight Tests this year but Lara's side have edged the one-dayers, with four wins to three defeats.
"There is no thought of revenge," Lara added. "It's been good cricket. I have
congratulated Michael Vaughan and his team for their cricket and their humility."
Vaughan said he would ask his side for one "last big push" after their extraordinary year, during which they have won 10 out of 11 Tests.
They have never won a World Cup or Champions Trophy and were not expected to reach the final this time, only to beat world champions Australia in the semi-finals.
EXCITING AND DANGEROUS
"That was probably the sweetest victory we have had in a long while," Vaughan said. "But we won't be complacent. West Indies are exciting and dangerous."
He said The Oval was the perfect stage, since it would produce a true wicket.
"This is the second biggest one-day event in the world and being in our
country has made it a bit more special. It's a massive occasion for us.
"Cricket is always going to be second to football in this country. This year, the European championship took the column inches, then the Olympics and the Ryder Cup. But we have a sell-out today and that is fantastic."
