Lara, Sarwan to coach Windies batsmen

Lara, Sarwan to coach Windies batsmen|Lara, Sarwan to coach Windies batsmen
Associated Press|Associated Press / Kirsty Wigglesworth

Cricket Legend Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan have been given the job of helping the West Indies batsmen ahead of the two Tests against India starting this week in Antigua and the final Test in Jamaica later this month.

Both will be involved in a preparation camp which got underway recently at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. They will lend their experience to the 13-man squad as they gear up for the two Test series.

Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams said, “We have some good young batsman in the team who we believe will form the future of West Indies cricket.”

“We saw some very good signs of development earlier this year in the Test matches when we played so very well to beat England and we want to see them grow and become outstanding players for the West Indies. We have taken steps to have Brian and ‘Ronnie’ work with these players, who have demonstrated a willingness to learn and succeed,” he said adding, “we know we still have the passion and love for West Indies cricket and are eager to assist and share their information with the present generation.”

Lara, 50, is West Indies’ leading run-scorer in Tests with 11,953 runs from 131 matches with 34 centuries.

He quit international cricket following the historic ICC World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007.

Sarwan gathered 5,842 runs in 87 Test matches, including 15 centuries, with a top score of 291 against England at Bridgetown, Barbados.

The 39-year-old middle-order batsman also featured in West Indies preparation camp in April in Barbados ahead of the Tri-nation Series in Ireland.

Following the Antigua Test, West Indies will face India in the final Test starting on Aug. 30 at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

West Indies’ Ramnaresh Sarwan looks on during a training session in Chennai, India.
Associated Press / Kirsty Wigglesworth