SYDNEY—Legendary Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne believes an intervention from Brian Lara is warranted in order to save West Indies’ troubled tour Down Under from becoming a full blown crisis.
Speaking after witnessing the Windies innings and 212-run defeat inside three days in the opening Test in Hobart, Warne said Lara could play a role in reviving team morale.
“Lara is in the country. They need to get him involved, spend some time with the team in Melbourne,” said Warne, who snared 708 wickets from 145 Tests.
Lara is the highest run-getter for West Indies in Tests with 11 953 runs in 131 matches, and remains the world-record holder for the highest scores in Tests and first class cricket. He is currently in Australia after featuring in a Festival of Cricket Twenty20 match in Western Australia last week.
Warne, one of Lara’s main nemeses during his playing days, said it was important West Indies bounced back as world cricket needed a strong Caribbean side. “I think world cricket needs the West Indies to be strong. What they bring to the table is so exciting,” said Warne. “They play with emotion, passion and flair. The Windies are passionate people and they will be hurting from that loss.”
Lara is on record as supporting the decision to appoint Jason Holder as West Indies captain, pointing out that the youthful Holder is a player for the future and was an investment. He has also called on the WICB to get rid of some of the senior players and start rebuilding a Test team under Holder’s leadership.
Lara, who was at the World Cup in Australia earlier this year when Holder unsuccessfully led the team, has also indicated his interest in leading the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) which has been under fire within recent weeks. West Indies were hammered in Hobart, dismissed twice for 223 and 148, in response to Australia’s massive first innings score of 583 for four declared.
They face Australia in the second Test in Melbourne starting Boxing Day.
