The contract row between the players and the West Indies cricket board would not jeopardise the third cricket Test against India : Lara
Media Release
Jun. 22, 2006

West Indies captain Brian Lara allayed apprehensions that the contract row between the players and the West Indies cricket board would jeopardise the third cricket Test against India starting on Thursday.

"I am not authorised to speak on it so I would refrain from saying anything on the matter. As far as we are concerned, we are going ahead with the Test. I have not seen any unease among players because of pay matter. Everyone is looking forward to the game tomorrow," said Lara ahead of the third Test.

Turning to the match, Lara said he expected the pitch at St Kitts'' Warner Park to favour batsmen.

"It is certainly more harder than before but I would still expect it to favour batsmen."

Lara, whose second innings century in the second test at St Lucia had helped West Indies draw the match, said his team had no fitness worry except for Dwayne Bravo, who was down with flu virus.

"He didn''t come out to practice today but we expect him to turn up well tomorrow."

Lara said his team would look to take a leaf out of India's sheet in terms of big scores from his batsmen.

"Indians have said they looked forward to applying pressure on the West Indies by piling up big scores and I would expect from my batters to do the same.

"On hindsight, it was disappointing that we did not pile up a big score in the first innings of the Antigua Test after getting them out cheaply for 243. I certainly expected my batsmen to pile up 400 plus and even 500 runs on that pitch."

Lara did not hide his disappointment of not getting the team he wanted well.

"It's unfortunate that the selectors and I don''t seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. I guess we have to play with what we have got," he said.

Lara had publicly pleaded with the selectors to get an "out-and-out fast bowler" to put the Indian batsmen in discomfort. He also said the selectors had not specified their reasons for not heeding his request.

Lara also said his side was relieved they did not have to face off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the first two Tests.

"He is a top class spinner and his record shows that. On hindsight, if he had played in Antigua on the last day and even in St Lucia, he would definitely have been more handful than Sehwag. It was fortunate for us that it did not happen."

"We expected of course for Harbhajan Singh to be playing the first Test. He could be there tomorrow and it would add potency to their attack."

The Indians did not field Harbhajan in the first Test and he missed out on the second Test because of a groin strain. The Indians were not letting out if they still had plans to play him on Thursday.

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