West Indies captain Brian Lara sought to diffuse any simmering feelings of angst in his war of words with selector Andy Roberts.
“I think it is something I need to apologize for,” said Lara after he responded with disdain to Roberts’ criticism of team tactics and his assertion that the panel was ignored since the World Cup 15-player party was selected.
“I can simply say to Andy Roberts that I did not select this World Cup squad. I was not there in the meeting. The team was selected without me. But I still go out there and fight my very best with the squad given to me,” Lara had countered after Roberts’ words following the team’s heavy loss to New Zealand on Thursday.
“If things like that is gonna be out every single time you have a bad performance it’s not gonna be healthy for our cricket at all,” Lara said before the team’s final practice session yesterday at the National Stadium before their crucial Super Eight clash with Sri Lanka today.
“I mean if we wanna do well I think we gonna have constructive criticism and in-house hearings where people air their views. I was caught by surprise in the press conference”, he explained.
Roberts as well as former fellow pace ace Michael Holding were perplexed at the selection decisions for the New Zealand game.
“I can’t find the words to describe it. If you play an extra batsman at No. 8, he has to be able to bowl. All I can say is that Simmons must have changed roles since I last saw him,” Roberts had declared following the axing of bowling attack spearhead Jerome Taylor for top order batsman Lendl Simmons.
“I am very surprised and shocked that things like that actually needs to be spoken about public,” added Lara yesterday.
However, the captain conceded that the criticism had forced the team to think harder about their tactics.
He said the management which comprises head coach Bennett King, assistant coach David Moore and manager Clive Lloyd and himself had a general meeting with the players among others to find solutions.
West Indies need to beat Sri Lanka to keep their campaign alive for the semifinals. Sri Lanka also has not notched any Super Eight wins.
Australia currently leads the points table with six points from two wins and two points carried forward from the first round.
West Indies and Sri Lanka have two points each from first round wins.
