Much as I enjoyed watching Lara bat, I don't think he should return to Test cricket....
I was also against Michael Schumacher returning to Formula One, for the same reasons. They are older now, and their reflexes are slower.
Add to that the fact that Lara was never a great one for training, much like Sobers. I read an autobiography by Clive Lloyd, where he pointed out that Sobers' lack of training contributed to his decline in later years. Lloyd posed the question: imagine how good Sobers would have been if he'd taken training seriously?
The same could be said for Lara. I don't think he's in any condition to play Test cricket now, and we'd be living on past glories.
As for Lara being shown the door, to me he seems to have left on his own volition. Indications were that the WICB were going to take the captaincy away from him after the World Cup, which they needed to do, because under his leadership, the WI were a dispirited bunch. His actual place in the side was not under threat. However, he chose to retire, and he wasn't pushed....
Now, if he chooses to come back, who would he replace in this likely Test batting lineup for the first Test against South Africa?
1) Chris Gayle
2) Adrian Barath
3) Ramnaresh Sarwan
4) Shiv Chanderpaul
5) Brendan Nash
6) Narsing Deonarine
7) Dwayne Bravo
8) Denesh Ramdin
To me, Lara would first have to prove his fitness by playing a season for Trinidad, before becoming eligible for the West Indies, much the same way Marlon Samuels would have to play a season for Jamaica before we talk about him getting back into the WI side....