Lara to sit out of some ODIs against Zimbabwe

Antigua, May 2 (UNI) West Indian captain Brian Lara wants to preserve himself and has decided to sit out some ODIs against the touring Zimbabwe in case of the home side clinches the series early.

''I'm 37 years of age. I want to play both forms of the game.

I want to play in the World Cup, but I would also like to play Test cricket against India, Pakistan and whoever else,'' the world's highest Test run getter said.

''The main thing is if we can rotate a bit and not necessarily before a series is decided. If we play against India and we happened to be three up, you are going to see a chance where guys are given a rest.'' Lara said his side is going to have a vice-captain soon.

West Indies were without an appointed vice-captain in the first two one-dayers against Zimbabwe.

''I sense that you're going to see a (deputy) captain on the field before the series is over because I don't think I have intentions of playing all seven [matches],'' Lara was quoted as saying by Barbadian newspaper Daily Nation.

The multiple world record holder who is in his third reign as West Indies captain expressed his disappointment that the present team lacks in-house competition.

''Whoever we consider to be the best batsman, I want to see people competing with him. In my early days in the 1990s, there was Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson, but at the end of any series I wanted to be counted as the top batsman in that series. That's what has to be created here.'' UNI XC PDS BD1434