The West Indies team may find itself in the pit aftertwo successive whitewashes against England but under-fire captain Brian Larasays getting him off the saddle is not going to solve the problems of Caribbeancricket.
"I am in charge, yes. And chop my head off if youmust, but it is not going to be the solution," said Lara ahead of theChampions Trophy.
"The problem is much deep-rooted and that's whereall the astute men of West Indian cricket have to come together and plan for thefuture." The West Indies suffered their first home series loss to Englandin decades when it went down to Michael Vaughan's team 3-0 early this year.
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A world record 400 not out by Lara helped them eke outa draw in the fourth Test but there was no respite when they set foot on Englishsoil and were soundly thrashed in all the four Tests.
The record breaking batsman made a frontal attack onthe cricket establishment in the Caribbean islands and said there werefundamental issues which needed attention before his head went under theguillotine.
"I think the administration has to be better. Weare talking about the money from the governments which is not coming to cricket.
"If you are playing international cricket, youcan't be without any retainer. I mean, every Test playing country is getting it.We instead are going from tour to tour. "It is going to be very, very difficult till a lot of things are sorted out," Lara said.
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He gave the example of Indian cricket and said thefaith in the core of its players has led the team to do a turnaround ininternational arena.
"If your number five or six are 20-21 year old,without any grade experience, you are going to struggle, you are going to taketime.
"India is still playing upto 60-70 per cent of thesame team now they played eight years ago. Then they were only turning up.
"If you are going to give inexperienced guys anopportunity to play international cricket, you don't expect the team to turnimmediately." Lara said a lot of his players were not accustomed to playinginternational level of cricket.
"The decline of West Indian cricket started duringSir Vivian Richards. We are not beating anyone 5-0 anymore.
"Three fast bowlers of ours played in England andreturned with stress fractures. It is not club cricket and that's where theyhave come from.
"A lot of things are pointed in my direction and Ihave been saying over and over again, 'I have been the servant of West Indiancricket and would continue to work in whatever capacity'.
"Whatever I have achieved belongs to my people,whatever position they want me to hold I would do so. At least for the next twoor three years, I want to enjoy my cricket. "It's not going to change tomorrow, it is not going to change next month,it is going to take a very, very long time for West Indies cricket to turnaround," Lara said.
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Lara himself has been in tremendous form and reached apersonal high of an innings of 400 runs as well as the landmark of 10,000 Testruns.
"Cricket is a team game. It's great to makeindividual scores but the team is suffering and that is what counts.
"It has not been emotionally very satisfying forme as we lost to England both in the Caribbean and here. Everything else takessecond place if the team doesn't perform." Lara admitted his performancehas not been able to inspire his team as he would have liked it to do.
"Sometimes you lead from the front but that's notthe only way to do it. It is important for the boys to work together.
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"We have been working hard for the guys to performto the optimum. Unfortunately, it has not worked on a consistent basis."
Lara does not believe Australia start as an automaticfavourites in the Champions Trophy, a tournament which it is yet to win.
"I think a lot of teams are getting close toAustralia. I think leading up to the World Cup last year they truly wereoutstanding. They deserved it then, they deserve it now also but I think a lotof things in one-day cricket is who plays better on the day.
"Why Australia has not been able to win thistournament I am not sure," he said.
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PTI
