Lara believes in Windies chances

MONTEGO BAY – West Indies captain Brian Lara believes his team have what it takes to go all the way in what he is sure will be a tightly contested World Cup.

“It is going to be very close and very competitive,” Lara told reporters at the team’s opening news conference on Sunday. “It is very hard to say that there are one or two teams who will control the competition and win it.Things are very close between the test-playing nations.”Sure, Australia are the favourites but we have been to the finals of major competitions, we have the quality in our team and we are capable of getting to the final,” he said.West Indies won the opening two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 but have struggled in recent years, failing to replace their top class performers as they retired from the international stage.But Lara, 37, who holds the record for the highest test score, the highest first-class tally and has scored more test runs than any player in history, believes the corner has been turned and better days lay ahead.”Our cricket has been in decline for 10 years but it is there in front of us now and we have played good cricket in the last two years,” he said.Nampa-Reuters”It is very hard to say that there are one or two teams who will control the competition and win it.Things are very close between the test-playing nations.”Sure, Australia are the favourites but we have been to the finals of major competitions, we have the quality in our team and we are capable of getting to the final,” he said.West Indies won the opening two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 but have struggled in recent years, failing to replace their top class performers as they retired from the international stage.But Lara, 37, who holds the record for the highest test score, the highest first-class tally and has scored more test runs than any player in history, believes the corner has been turned and better days lay ahead.”Our cricket has been in decline for 10 years but it is there in front of us now and we have played good cricket in the last two years,” he said.Nampa-Reuters