Windies still hope to salvage trophy in Australia

West Indian batsman Brian Lara has said his team, trounced 5-nil in a test series in Australia, still hoped to salvage something from their tour.

The West Indies, with three wins from eight matches, beat Zimbabwe on Friday to qualify for the right to play Australia in the three-match final of a one-day triangular series.

"We would love to leave Australia with a trophy from the one-day series," Lara, 31, was quoted as saying in The Sun-Herald newspaper on Sunday.

He said the West Indies arrived in Australia with a young and inexperienced team.

"Any sort of success we can get out of this tour would be great," Lara said.

"We relied on a few experienced players who did not come through, like myself and Courtney (Walsh). I don't think you could pinpoint one person and say it was his fault."

Lara supported the efforts of captain Jimmy Adams, whose position is under threat for a home series against South Africa.

Adams, a left-handed batsman who struggled to take the initiative against the Australians either with the bat or with his field placings, averaged just 18.88 in the test series.

"He doesn't have the results to show for it, but he has done a great job and I'm sure we are going to rally around him to make sure we get something out of the next week for him," Lara said.

Lara, the world record holder with a highest test score of 375, said he was not interested in resuming the captaincy. During the test series he was inconsistent making one score over 40 when he hit a marvellous 182 in the third test in Adelaide in December.

In the triangular series he has fared slightly better, making a glorious 116 not out and two half-centuries.

Walsh, 38, the world record holder for test wickets with 494, took only 11 wickets in the series against Australia, at an average of 43.73.

He did not play in the limited overs series against Australia and Zimbabwe but has stated his intention to play against South Africa.

Lara said he would rest a thigh strain for six weeks after the Australia tour before a home test series begins against South Africa.

Mail Cricket Editor