LARA
MELBOURNE, Australia,( CMC):
WEST INDIES captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has defended batting superstar Brian Lara, in the face of the player's recent decline in form.
Lara fell cheaply for 30 and 14 in the first Test in Brisbane, extending his run of low scores from the Super Series Test and One Day Internationals in October.
"I don't think he's struggling," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Chanderpaul as saying.
"I just think he needs some more time in the middle and he is stroking the ball well. He could go out there tomorrow and just get runs on the board for us."
West Indies face Australia in the second Test of the three-Test series at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, starting Thursday (tomorrow night Caribbean time).
OFFENSIVE
They trail the hosts 1-0 after their heavy 379-run loss in the first Test but Chanderpaul said his team would be looking to go on the offensive as they aimed to turned their fortunes around.
According to the 31-year old left hander, his team would seek to target the new Aussie players in the squad as a way of seizing the initiative.
"Obviously you have guys who are now coming into the side and they're looking to make a name for themselves," Chanderpaul continued.
"They don't have as much experience as the other guys and will probably be a bit shaky in the beginning. Hopefully we can get it right come next game and sort these things out early."
While Michael Hussey made his debut in the Gabba Test, Brad Hodge is expected to be capped in the upcoming Test. Andrew Symonds, despite his extensive ODI experience, will be playing only the third Test of his career if selected.
