Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
West Indies players, Jerome Taylor (left), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (centre) and Carlton Baugh Jr. stand on the outside corridor on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER ROTATING the West Indies team during the Zimbabwe seven-match one-day series, captain Brian Lara believes they have found the right combination to tackle India.
"We have this situation where we tried different players. What we were really looking to do was to come up with the best possible 14 for this particular series," explained Lara.
"This is the best team (squad) we have here in Jamaica," Lara told journalist on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday with the rest of the team.
After three years out of the one-day team, Jamaica's wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jnr. has been given the nod ahead of Denesh Ramdin for the first two ODIs against India this Thursday and Saturday at Sabina Park.
"The likes of Carlton Baugh coming back into the team and performing well is good ... putting some pressure on the young Denesh Ramdin, who I have a lot of respect for, but maybe he needed that kind of competition."
COMPETITIVE SPOT
Ramdin was dropped for the last two matches, but according to Lara, the wicketkeeping spot has become competitive.
"... Read whatever you like in it but it's not a situation where you consider a 21-year-old wicketkeeper being dropped. I think the competition is very healthy and it augurs well for West Indies cricket.
"It's a situation where a guy, Carlton Baugh, has got an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands.
Going into Thursday and Saturday matches at Sabina Park, Lara said: "The guys gained some confidence (from Zimbabwe). We have been working on different things as a team and that is actually coming to fruition," he added.
"Come Thursday we're going to have a team that is well oiled and gelling together," added Lara in anticipation of the series.
Lara also believes his team is at an advantage.
"We have been playing cricket, actively playing competitive cricket and that's one of the advantages we have over the Indians at present."
Though they are coming off series wins against Pakistan and England, Lara said despite having respect for the Indians, it's going to be difficult for them in the Caribbean.
"We all know how difficult it is in the Caribbean, the pitches are a bit different, the atmosphere is different. All these things will play a part in us getting the advantage, but again the better team is going to win on the day.
"And I feel if we perform as a team, we are capable of overhauling them," he added.
The 14-man squad, which took part in the last two matches in Trinidad & Tobago, remain unchanged.
SQUAD: Brian Lara (captain), Christopher Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh Jnr., Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo and Dave Mohammed.
