ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC);
WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara is still not satisfied with his team's batting and has called on his batsmen to begin putting up totals of 300-plus against Zimbabwe in the next five One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe.
The home side could only manage 242 for nine off their 50 overs in the second ODI at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) yesterday to defeat the young and inexperienced Zimbabwe side by 98 runs to take a 2-0 series lead.
"I'm happy with the bowling," Lara said after the visitors were dismissed for 144 while chasing the Windies score.
"I still think we need to do some work with the batting. We lost too many wickets (on Saturday) chasing 152. Today (Sunday) we were (struggling) again almost being bowled out.
300-PLUS
"I think it is a situation where we should start thinking about 300-plus for the remainder of the series and then I'll feel much happier," he added.
Speaking during the post-match ceremony, Lara attributed the batsmen's relative lack of form to the lengthy break they have had and the limited preparation for this series since returning from the tour of New Zealand about a month ago.
"I think the guys are getting their footing," said the triple world record-holder, who was appointed captain for a record third time last week.
"It's their first couple of games back. You can tell from how Chris (Gayle) and Shiv (Chanderpaul) and the other guys are batting. They are feeling their way and ... I'm sure by the time the series restarts next weekend in Guyana, we are
going to have all the guys pumped up and going again. As I said 300-plus is par-the-course against Zimbabwe."
BATTING AT SIX
Asked why he was batting at number six, Lara said it was to give some of the younger batsmen some valuable batting practice.
"I expect the top four to five batsmen to dominate the (bowling) throughout the 50 overs. So I'm trying to get the batsmen who usually bat lower down a knock by letting them batting higher up. So you are going to see maybe a Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo coming up the order trying to get a hit. We need to dominate. Eventually, I'm going to get up to number four or where I think it is possible the team needs me the most," he said.
"We are trying to give everybody a run. I'm looking to see guys getting runs."
Lara also hinted that some of the players will get a rest, especially the bowlers.
"The likes of maybe (Jerome) Taylor I'm not sure if you are going to see him playing in Guyana. He bowled well on the weekend and we would like to see other players get the opportunity."
PHYSICAL WORK
The series resumes in Guyana on May 6 and 7 and the Windies players will have five days to prepare. Lara said they will do some physical work.
"We have got fitness training planned for Antigua. I think we travel to Guyana on Wednesday where we will resume normal practice."
Addressing his advancing years, Lara, who turns 37 years tomorrow, said he would have preferred to be watching the one-day series from the stands.
"It would be nice to be in a rocking chair watching one-day cricket, but I've to be out here and I'm enjoying it. It's nice to be still playing cricket. It is testimony to the long time I've been playing and I've really enjoyed it."
