LARA
GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (CMC):
WITH A clash of the current four-Test series against India and World Cup football in Germany, West Indies captain Brian Lara is not surprised by the low spectator turnout for the second Test here.
There were just a few hundred spectators at the Beausejour Stadium on the opening day Saturday when Lara's beloved country Trinidad & Tobago made a heartening start to their World Cup debut by battling to a goalless draw with Sweden.
But there was an improvement on Sunday although the stands never reached half the capacity.
"We knew from months ago that the World Cup soccer is going to be at this time of the year, this month, and of course, (there is) a lot of interest," Lara said at a press conference.
"Matches showing on television twice every day so we know that the crowd is not going to be great throughout this series.
"I think it is a bad time of the year for cricket. That's unfortunate, but we as players have to get up and go out and play."
Lara said his team took advantage of the lunch interval to watch the Trinidad & Tobago-Sweden match.
"First of all I thought it was one-nil (to Trinidad & Tobago). Then someone signalled from off the field. But I think it was a great result.
"I just spoke to Dwight (Yorke) and he is very proud of the guys and another very close friend of mine, Hislop (Shaka), had a great game as goalkeeper.
"We watched 35 minutes of the game. They were screaming at us to get onto the field. It was good to at least see the boys out in the middle and it sort of gave us some inspiration and I think it definitely gave Pedro some inspiration."
Lara said Hislop's showing as a 37-year-old like himself, spoke volumes for veterans in sport.
"He is a couple days younger than I am. I grew up with Shaka as well. I played soccer as a youngster, himself, Russell Latapy, Dwight. We were a very close quartet, so it's nice to see him.
When asked whether he would wish to be in Germany now, Lara quipped: "I am very happy where I am, focussing on this game. Maybe if the pitch goes to Germany."
India opener Virender sehwag, who topscored with 180 in a total of 588 for eight declared, also declared an interest in the World Cup and said he was backing Brazil.
"Everybody is looking to soccer World Cup. I am supporting Brazil. It's good for me to be watching football and playing a quick knock like Brazil," Sehwag said.
