 Lara blames selectors, curator for defeat
Kingston (Jamaica), July 3: West Indian captain Brian Lara has blamed the side's 49-run defeat in the series-deciding fourth cricket Test against India on the national selectors and the curator of the Sabina Park.
"We were against all odds. Bad selection and bad pitches. I am very proud of the way my boys played," a visibly hurt Lara said after losing the four-match series 1-0 yesterday.
Lara had demanded a genuine quick bowler to be included in the team and asked for pacy tracks to exploit the Indians' weakness against fast bowling ahead of and during the Test series.
Both his request went unheeded. Lara was particularly upset by the fact that a rank turner, which suited the Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh more, was dished out for the decisive Test.
During the West Indies' second innings, after a huge off-break by Harbhajan beat his outside edge, Lara turned to groundsman Charlie on the boundary and gave him a sarcastic applause.
The 37-year-old, who holds the world record individual score of 400 not out, refused to accept that the hosts' poor batting on the second day when they were bowled out for 103 was partly to be blamed for the team's humiliating loss. (Agencies)
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