Lara welcomes Twenty20

Lara welcomes Twenty20

Brian Lara.

NEW DELHI: India’s historic triangular cricket series win in Australia was a wake up call, feels Brian Lara but the West Indian legend advises the ‘Men in Blue’ “to be ready for a backlash”.

“After the debacle at home, Australia is going to come back strong and look for revenge,” warned Lara, who was in the capital on a business visit.

“It is really good what India has achieved despite playing under new captains, in Tests and One-dayers, but the hard work is going to start now,” Lara said.

“Anil (Kumble) and (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni will have to be on their toes to keep up the momentum and play well,” he said.

On Sachin Tendulkar, Lara said there was nothing more that he could add to what he has said over the years about the Master Blaster, but “John Buchanan made a mistake by lighting fire under Sachin.”

Realise potential


With the Twenty20 format of cricket gaining popularity, the West Indian, who is currently contracted to the Indian Cricket League (ICL), said it was high time that the administrators elsewhere realise the potential of this version of cricket.

Referring to the cricket boards which are opposing the two leagues in India, the ICL and the Indian Premier League, Lara said “People need to wake up to the fact that there are options now, while in the past there were very little or none.”

“They got to get their act together. You can’t blame the cricketers who have opted to play in either of the leagues as the money made available was too good to refuse,” Lara said.

To be match-fit soon


On the injury that forced him to opt out of the ongoing ICL tournament, Lara said he would like to get match-fit as soon as possible and get some runs.

“I did not have a good outing in the inaugural ICL. I was injured then also, but decided to play to honour the commitment,” he said.

Lara said the Twenty20 format pulls in a different type of crowd and there was nothing wrong with it. “It can evolve into something bigger in the future,” he said.

With the corporates coming in and taking control of the teams, Lara felt that individual cricketer had benefited as more choices were available to earn big money.

“Look at football, there are so many leagues all over the world and a football player is free to move wherever he wishes, without a stigma,” said Lara.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031357022000.htm