lara: I want to leave telling impact on cricket
Trinidad Guardian
October 26, 2003

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What an eventful October month! Signing on with TSTT as my official wire line, internet and mobile provider; Trinidad and Tobago taking its now customary exit from the Red Stripe Bowl tournament in the semi-final stage; taking part in the camp and sitting with the selectors to pick the 16-man squad for our Test tour of Zimbabwe; and don’t think I forgot Matthew Hayden wrestling away from us after 45 years, the world record for the highest Test score.

If I were to describe the Trinidad and Tobago performance in the One-Day tournament, it would be, at best, ordinary and I was a contributor to that. There were some good performances from a couple players. Shazam Babwah was the star with the bat and Dinanath Ramnarine showed that he is still up there with the best spinners in the Caribbean.

But, by and large, we still have some work to do as a team.

I do not want to lament on the negatives; what’s past is past. But I think I am in a position to offer some sort of advice to the young players whom I played alongside.

Players like Dwayne Bravo, Aneil Kanhai, Reyad Emrit, and Theodore Modeste, to name a few — all with the potential to go further.

The most important piece of advice is about the need to address the attitude to the game. I am not saying you possess a bad one, far from it. Attitude can mean a host of things. Have you ever heard the saying, “that man have bad mind” being said in a positive manner? For next year’s Carib Beer Cup, let us focus on our attitude and see if we can improve on any areas that need improving, like our approach to practise our game and developing a sense of tunnel vision that keeps us focused on our goals, so that we can realise them amidst all adversities. Young and very talented, you got to use your best years to set up your career and that is now.

It is a good feeling to be on board with one of the giants in corporate Trinidad and Tobago, TSTT.

TSTT is Government-owned, with some shares being in the public domain. I myself understand that I, too, am sometimes considered “public property,” so this marriage is between compatible entities. Together we are going to strive to bring the best service to you, by way of better telecommunications services and plenty runs.

Yesterday, the West Indies team was due to depart Antigua for Zimbabwe and South Africa, for what promises to be a defining moment in our cricketing landscape. Maintaining our dominance over Zimbabwe takes priority and this will be drummed into the hearts and minds of all our players. Team goals will be set one step at a time; achieving them will be paramount as we move on.

Let’s look at the team and the first evidence of the selections being good ones is to see who was left behind. I remember saying after the Sri Lanka tour of the West Indies, that when the time came to select the team for our next tour, there would be some names that regrettably would have to be left out. Only 16 can go and they would have to be the very best. We saw quite a few guys making their debut against the much-vaunted Australian team. You could not get a sterner test and some did come through with glimpses of promise. What I can say to these youngsters is “keep your head up, keep striving and don’t forget the attitude.”

As long as that is right, your next opportunity is around the corner.

The team selected has a nice blend of youth and experience. In the batting department all the players have in excess of 10 Test matches under their belt. Blooding young batsmen will have to take place another time. Two wicketkeepers, one we call “Old Soldier” Jacobs and the young and exciting Carlton Baugh. A lone spinner in Omari Banks and six fast bowlers, three of whose parents would be worried about their whereabouts, as they are barely out of Secondary School.

Just looking at the set-up of the team, communication is important. Sharing experiences with the younger players is something that senior players will have to do.

Allowing everyone to express themselves for the benefit of the team and, at the same time, the team must be there for each individual. We will pursue the physical, mental and tactical enhancement of this team together. Coming back victorious is important, but coming back better cricketers would be a greater achievement.

Having my record broken by Matthew Hayden will have more of a positive rather than negative effect on me. I have congratulated him on his mammoth feat and wish him peace and happiness along with it. My future holds great possibilities and I am going to embrace it without the luxury of holding the world record for Test runs. I believe the task that lies ahead of me is to leave a different and maybe more telling impact on the game of cricket and I have the attitude to do it.