Back-to-back matches ''too taxing'' for Lara's ageing body

Port of Spain, Trinidad, May 26 (UNI) Describing back-to-back matches as ''too taxing'' for his ageing body, West Indies captain Brian Lara has welcomed his board's decision to alter the ODI schedule against India to accommodate a day's break in between matches.

''I'm going to be biased. I'm 37 years old. Back-to-back matches are definitely too taxing,'' Lara told reporters here.

''I played a lot of them in the past but now it's tough playing on Saturday and Sunday,'' he added.

The Windies skipper's comments came after his board accepted the Indian request seeking a change in the schedule to avoid back-to-back games.

The series originally included back-to-back weekend games at the Sabina Park and Queen's Park Oval but the schedule was altered after India's request and a day's break was added. The Trinidad leg of the series have also been rescheduled on Friday and Sunday.

Lara admitted that such games were good revenue generators but said there were better ways to generate money.

''Most of our revenue is from gate receipts. We need a weekend to play that sort of cricket to get the crowds out,'' Lara said.

''But Now television plays a big part and people can afford to play games if the stadia are not full because the television rights and that sort of money is greater than anything else,'' he added.

He said the changed schedule would benefit both the teams as they will get time to recharge their batteries before each match.

''It is a good option that India exercised in getting that rest period between the two matches. Having it in Jamaica and here in Trinidad, I'm sure is going to be beneficial,'' Lara added.

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