Sachin is just too good and my favourite, says Lara

Chennai, Apr 3: Critics might have started writing the epitaph for Sachin Tendulkar but his comtemporary and equally gifted Brian Lara foresees that the master blaster ''will be back to where he belongs.'' ''Form is temporary. He is just too good. He will be back to where he belongs. He is my favourite. He is just too good,'' the West Indian batting great said at a packed press conference here after launching a new brand of tyres as the brand ambassador for MRF today.

Meanwhile, the highest run getter in the history of Test cricket, Lara had a bad news for the bowlers around the world. The southpaw pronounced that he was not done yet denying contemplating calling quits.

''I am still physically fit and I would like to go on,'' West Indian batting great said.

However, he was quick to add, ''But the day I feel that I am burden to myself, I will move aside for new and youger talent to take over.'' Asked how did he assess his batting now, Lara said a batsman was only as good as his last innings and quipped, ''I have had a knock of 84 in my last innings.'' Lara, who is the highest run getter in history of Test cricket, said he was looking forward to the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and India.

''We are looking forward to the World Cup also. We hope the big event would do a lot of good for the cricket at grass roots level,'' Lara said referring to the downfall of the West Indies cricket over the years from being an invincible team once.

Brian Lara had a word of praise for Indian Captain Rahul Dravid. ''He is doing a good job. He did well against Australia in down under. ''It was sad to be on the losing side even as he was getting big scores and world records. I love to see the West Indies getting back to the top or at least amongst the firsts.

''It is difficulty to be in a losing team but our country had produced best cricketers and played the best cricket.'' Asked which bowler was the toughest for him to negotiate, Lara said ''as a batsman I should always feel any bowler is difficult.

Anybody is capable of getting me out. The biggest challenge is to get myself in and play well.'' However, in his opinion Pakistan's Wasim Akram was the best pace bowler that he has faced and Sharne Warne, the best spinner he had played against.

Asked about criticism of indiscipline against the West Indian teams, Lara said ''there is always talks like that particularly when we lose. There are such pessimistic comments.'' On his opinion as to who is likely to break his world record, Lara said ''there are a couple of guys like Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle or it could even be Matthew Hayden.

''It is a possibility, records are meant to be broken. The faster my record is broken, the better for the game.''

UNI