( L - R ) Chanderpaul and Sarwan Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
FLORENCE HALL, Trelawny:
TWO OF them, including himself, hardly hit a ball in the West Indies' opening practice match against Kenya at the new stadium in Trelawny on Monday. And one who did, Ramnaresh Sarwan, got a start but never capitalised.
However, Brian Lara is not worried about the batting form, or lack of it, when it comes to the experienced trio of Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and himself.
Instead, the Windies skipper calms himself with the full knowledge that his well-experienced gang, and a few others, can 'hot up' the party when required.
Lara, the 37-year-old veteran of 290 one-day internationals, passed up his chance at bat at Kenya to give others a try.
"It's always going to be difficult. You have got nine batters in the team and it is going to be difficult to give everyone an opportunity," Lara said.
"You are looking at another five or six practice sessions and those are very important to myself. Mentally, I'm strong, I'm looking forward to the World Cup and if things don't go well on Friday it's not going to be a big problem," Lara said after Monday's game. "Come tomorrow or Wednesday when we practice again, I'm going to be focusing on getting my game together."
With 10,136 runs at an overall average of 40.54, 19 centuries and 62 fifties, the left-handed batting genius is crafty enough to shine with lesser opportunities than his contemporaries.
"I'm experienced enough to get it together in the nets and to be able to reproduce something in the middle that is going to benefit the team."
Confidence strong
His confidence is just as strong for two other senior batters in the team who are expected to lead the home team's historical charge to become the first hosts to win the Cricket World Cup.
Referring firstly to Sarwan, who averages 44.33 from 115 matches with three 100s and 24 fifties, and was injured and only restarted recently then got 27 off 29 balls against Kenya, Lara said: "You know, he's an experienced player and Chanderpaul didn't get a hit. But we know that these guys are focused on the tournament. I know that they understand their roles and responsibilities and I'm sure that they are going to come good."
b>Dismissed for nought
The 32-year-old Chanderpaul, the team's former skipper, has accumulated 6,459 runs in ODIs at a 37.99 average with four centuries and 44 fifties. He was dismissed for nought off eight balls in the Kenya practice game.
"If there's a time that you want them to score, or not to score, it's at this point in time - before the tournament starts," Lara pointed out. "Sarwan's going to have another opportunity on Friday," he said pointing to a key warm-up against India.
"India's a team. They are going to be able to raise their performance a lot better than Kenya. "Against India the likes of Bravo (Dwayne), who did not play today, myself, who didn't have a hit, Sarwan, a couple of the guys, Pollard (Kieron), we've to try and get everyone included and let everyone get some batting under their belt before the first competitive game."
Bravo recuperating
Bravo is on the comeback trail, recuperating from injury, and Pollard, a 19-year-old newcomer, is a surprise pick in whom Lara obviously expects a lot.
Pollock has played 10 first-class matches, scored 420 runs with a flat 42 average, including a swashbuckling 126 off 77 balls with six sixes. With that record, the skipper says they were keen to give the teenager a go against Kenya.
"We were very keen to get Marlon (Samuels) out to let him have a go. He's going to have another opportunity on Friday and he's got a special talent. But this is international cricket, he knows about the McGraths, the Sean Pollocks and guys of that calibre and he knows that he has got to adapt quickly if he wants to be successful. So, we're going to try as much as possible to massage him in and get him in and hopefully he can have an effect on the World Cup."
The test is really for those not yet proven at this level. No need to worry about the experienced few.
