Lara hints at playing an extra batsman against Zimbabwe tomorrow

Ahmedabad, Oct 7 (UNI) West Indian captain Brian Lara today hinted at playing an extra batsman in their opening Champions Trophy qualifying match against Zimbabwe at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, here tomorrow.

Speaking to newspersons in the pre-match press briefing, Lara said his side might make one change from the team that played in DLF Cup final in Malyasia and play an extra batsman as their bowlers are doing very well.

''Dwayne Bravo and Dwanye Smith have been bowling extremely well which has given us the option,'' Lara said.

He said the team has benefitted immensely in the last year or so due to the stability in the selection process especially in regard to young fast bowlers.

''Bradshaw, Collymore and Edwards have still to prove themselves.

They all have immense talent and hopefully with more matches they will be able to realise their true potential,''Lara added Lara also had a word of praise for their opponents Zimbabwe, saying that his team is not taking them lightly and ''if we do so we could see an upset here tomorrow''.

Speaking more about the Zimbabwean team, Lara said he liked what he saw of them in the Carribean in March ''though we won 5-0''.

''They are a very competitive side and have been improving day by day as they get more match experience.'' Lara looked at the positive side of playing the qualifiers in spite of having won the last edition of Champions Trophy.

''We will be playing three competitive games and hopefully if we qualify, then these matches would help us get the much needed match practice under our belt and prepare us for the sterner tests ahead.'' On his not playing enough cricket in India, Lara said it has been unfortunate he was not well the last time Windies came here.

He hoped to be around to play a Test when the Windies travel to India in January next year and his dream was to play at least a Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

''Lords is supposed to be home ground of cricket, but the real home of the game is here in India,'' he averred.

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