Lara admits failing to deliver

Brian Lara admitted on Thursday he had not lived up to expectations on the Australian tour but hopes to redeem himself in the West Indies home series against South Africa.

"The amount of reliance that was placed on myself for the one-dayers and the Test series was something I didn't live up to," Lara told reporters on Thursday ahead of Friday's second final against Australia in the best-of-three series.

"It's something that I relish but I didn't live up to it.

"We've got a tough series coming up against South Africa at home. Hopefully, I can pay back the West Indies the amount of investment they've had."

The ex-captain said: "I had three months to sort myself out. I didn't have a great series in England, I didn't have a good series here in Australia but it's sport and hopefully I can pick up a bit."

Australia won the Test series 5-0, meeting little resistance, especially when the gifted left-hander went cheaply.

Lara made just 321 runs at an average of 32.1 with just one score over 50, an awesome knock of 182 in the third Test.

In the limited overs series against Australia and Zimbabwe, the former West Indies captain has contributed 372 runs at 53.1, including one century, but West Indies have lost all five of their matches to Australia, including Wednesday's first final.

Lara said he wanted the younger players in the West Indies side like Marlon Samuels and Ramnaresh Sarwan, both 20, to "come forward and make a name for themselves".

"I remember when I was 21, 22, I relished the opportunity to go out there and bat with Desmond Haynes and outshine Richie Richardson," Lara said.

"It's the toughest tour they can have come on and maybe from here they can kick-start their careers."

Australian captain Steve Waugh was in no mood for lending a hand to the struggling Windies, citing three good reasons to press for a quick and clinical end to the finals series.

He said: "No Australian side has ever been undefeated for a whole season and two more days at home (before departing for India next week), that's plenty of incentive.

"And I think we still haven't played our best game of one-day cricket for the season."

Mail Cricket Editor