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U19 Captain
Lara troubled by injury (BBC -online 9/10/02)
West Indies batting star Brian Lara has admitted he is still not fully fit after dislocating an elbow last December.
He suffered the injury in a collision with Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu during a one-day international and is still feeling the effects, both physically and mentally.
"I am not 100 per cent. It had a lot of psychological effect on me.
"I am unable to try things out and I don't feel comfortable," he said.
Lara returned in home series against India and New Zealand earlier this year, but was well below his best, making 351 runs in seven matches with a highest score of only 73.
It was in marked contrast to his form before suffering the injury when he made 178, 221 and 130 in successive Tests against Sri Lanka.
"This is the worst injury I ever had in my life. I now see why sportsmen go through a lean period for so long after such injuries," he added.
Lara still holds the records for the highest scores in Test and first-class cricket, both set in 1994.
He made 375 against England in a Test match in Antigua and later that year scored 501 for Warwickshire against Durham.
West Indies are currently back in Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy, where they will face South Africa and Kenya in their first round group.
Next month they head off to India, where they will play three Tests and seven one-day internationals.
Lara believes a bright future lies ahead with several talented youngsters in the squad.
"I have been part of the decline. I was there when we were on top. There is no one person to lay the blame on. We are all working together now.
"We are not going to be as invincible as we were but we are going to be a force to reckon with again."
West Indies batting star Brian Lara has admitted he is still not fully fit after dislocating an elbow last December.
He suffered the injury in a collision with Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu during a one-day international and is still feeling the effects, both physically and mentally.
"I am not 100 per cent. It had a lot of psychological effect on me.
"I am unable to try things out and I don't feel comfortable," he said.
Lara returned in home series against India and New Zealand earlier this year, but was well below his best, making 351 runs in seven matches with a highest score of only 73.
It was in marked contrast to his form before suffering the injury when he made 178, 221 and 130 in successive Tests against Sri Lanka.
"This is the worst injury I ever had in my life. I now see why sportsmen go through a lean period for so long after such injuries," he added.
Lara still holds the records for the highest scores in Test and first-class cricket, both set in 1994.
He made 375 against England in a Test match in Antigua and later that year scored 501 for Warwickshire against Durham.
West Indies are currently back in Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy, where they will face South Africa and Kenya in their first round group.
Next month they head off to India, where they will play three Tests and seven one-day internationals.
Lara believes a bright future lies ahead with several talented youngsters in the squad.
"I have been part of the decline. I was there when we were on top. There is no one person to lay the blame on. We are all working together now.
"We are not going to be as invincible as we were but we are going to be a force to reckon with again."
