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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

West Indies draw card Brian Lara who is likely to be one of the star players of the ICC Champions trophy admitted that the injury he suffered in Sri Lanka last year has had a psychological effect in his career. Lara, in outstanding form at that time collided with Sri Lankan fielder Marvan Atapattu during a one-day international played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy and dislocated his left elbow while attempting a run.

The injury put him out of the rest of the Sri Lankan tour and although he recovered to make a comeback to competitive cricket, the world's most destructive left-hander said it had restricted some of his stroke play. "I am not a 100 percent fit from my broken hand. It's had a lot of psychological effect on me. I am unable to try certain things and I don't feel comfortable trying it. It's gonna take time," said Lara yesterday.

"It is the worst injury I've ever had in my life. I now see why sportsmen go through periods where they are out of the game for a long time. I see the sort of psychological effect it's had on them," he said. "At present I feel comfortable, but I won't say that I am a 100 percent. I am definitely going to get there at some point," he said.

"In the recent series against India and New Zealand the injury has improved continuously over that period and hopefully I am not that restricted," Lara said.

Lara is playing a big role in the gradual rise of West Indies cricket after their decline and said if West Indies can win the ICC Champions trophy it would be a big boost for them.

"We have performed well notably in recent times and I expect them to do well here," he said.

"I've been a part of the West Indies decline. I played when we were on top and I experienced when the players declined from the top. You cannot put the blame on one particular person. A whole group of persons has to take the blame for it," said Lara.

"I see myself as someone who can help out the young West Indies cricketers. Someone whom they can come and talk to. So far I have had a very good relationship with the younger players," he said.

"I think we are doing quite well. We realise the enormous task that we have. The reputation we had in the past we have to try to live upto that. We've got to put the right things to one side and work as a team. The West Indies cricketers, especially the younger ones now are always trying to play for the West Indies.

"I am very optimistic about cricket in the West Indies. I think we've got a good group of youngsters, and a good mix of experience with Carl (Hooper) as captain, Shiv (Chanderpaul), myself and (Ridley) Jacobs. If we are prepared to leave the game, I think we've got the right group of youngsters ready to take it up and run with them.

"The youngsters I think are capable of taking West Indies to the top. We are not going to be as invincible as we were in the seventies and the eighties but definitely, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with," said Lara who is looking forwrd to making the Champions trophy a memorable one for him and West Indies cricket.

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