- REUTERS
Brian Lara from the West Indies plays a hook shot for a boundary to bring up his double-century during the first day of the third cricket Test against Australia in Adelaide yesterday (Thursday night Caribbean time).
ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC:
IN THE face of a poor run of scores compounded by questionable umpiring decisions, Brian Lara kept faith in his own ability and trusted that a personal work ethic would inevitably bring the desired results.
"I was working pretty hard without much success, but I knew that I was feeling good," the West Indies star batsman explained, after compiling an unbeaten 202 out of a total of 352 for seven for the tourists on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval yesterday (Thursday night Caribbean time).
"I was getting starts but just not going on. I knew it was just around the corner."
Mindful that the West Indies' next Test series is in New Zealand in March next year, Lara wanted to make the most of this opportunity to finally get among the runs.
GREAT FEELING
"I knew I was not going to be playing any Test cricket for the next three months, so I was really looking forward to this match. It's a great feeling to finally get some runs in Australia."
The former captain was appreciative of the enthusiastic response from an Adelaide Oval crowd of almost 20,000.
"It shows the appreciation they have for me. On four Test tours here, and a few one-day series in between, I've tried my best," he revealed.
"It was a touching moment today. When I scored the double century, I was ready to bat again and they were still standing and applauding. It's something I will always remember. I think there is a liking, not just for myself, but West Indies cricket."
Lara continued: "I think everyone around wants West Indies cricket to get back where it belongs. The enjoyment that we have given them over many, many decades, I think it's something that they appreciate."
His innings was one of two parts, cautious at first before he was confident enough to try and take charge.
"You've got, at some point in time, to dictate the pace and take the game to them," he explained. "You give the bowlers their hour and after that, you've got to know the pace and bounce of the pitch, what the bowlers have to offer, and don't be intimidated."
Going into the second day needing just 12 runs to become the highest Test run-scorer of all time, Lara did not wish to dwell too much on the likely achievement.
A TESTIMONY
"I think it's testimony to the fact that I've spent 15-16 years playing Test cricket. Anybody playing the game for so long and who is a fairly decent batsman will be in and around a few records sooner or later," he stated.
"I've had my ups and down, had many hurdles to cross. But I'm still here.
"I'm still fighting. I'm still playing with a team that is trying."
Yet, amid all of the positives of his innings and the overall team position, Lara remains dissatisfied with his role in advancing the game in the region.
"I think it's disappointing that my experience has not been used effectively at such a difficult period in West Indies cricket," he noted.
"I had an open-door policy in giving advice to players as captain, but I feel the hierarchy of the game in the Caribbean has not used that experience effectively.
"Even when I was captain, I didn't have the support (from the West Indies Cricket Board) to go with such a position," he added. "It was never unanimous and you hear things behind the scenes. But, so be it.
"I'm going to still go out there and fight for my people and fight for my team. If we ever turn the corner, you're going to see the happiest individual in the world because that's what I really want to see."
