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Star batsman Brian Lara’s absence is a major blow, and West Indies expects a ‘very tough’ Indian tour beginning this week, the visiting captain Carl Hooper said today. It’s a very big disappointment,” Hooper, accompanied by the team, said on his arrival here, where the West Indies would kick off their tour with a three-day warm-up match against Board President’s XI, led by Mohammed Kaif, on Friday.
“He (Lara) is a very, very experienced player and we will miss him certainly,” he said. “It’s a major blow to us.” But Hooper pointed out that the West Indies had to play many test matches without Lara in the past. “We will put our best foot forward. It’s important for people like myself to lead by example. We got exciting young players.”
Hooper said the Indian tour would be a “tough one,” but stated that they were prepared for it. “We had a ten-day camp in Colombo before coming here. We are excited about this trip. We will play good cricket and I think we can do well.” But he admitted that it was going to be very difficult to beat India in India and pointed out that Australia, one of the strongest sides that came to India, could not do it. “We are under no illusion (that it’s going to be easy). If we play very good cricket, we can do it (beating India).
Hooper said they were a nice, balanced side with two spinners and five fast bowlers. “Whatever surface we play, we can pick a side that’s capable of doing well.” |
