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Legendary cricketer Brian Lara voiced his dismay at Nicholas Pooran’s exclusion from the West Indies’ Test squad for the upcoming series against England, suggesting both Pooran and Shai Hope deserved inclusion given their potential to thrive in Test cricket.
In their most recent Test outing, the Windies achieved a historic victory over Australia in Brisbane, their first win on Australian soil in 27 years. This triumph, which leveled the series 1-1, saw Shamar Joseph play a crucial role with a seven-wicket haul in the final innings.
Don’t Know If Nicholas Pooran Was Asked – Brian Lara
In an interview with The Guardian, Brian Lara expressed his desire to see Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope make a return to the West Indies Test team. Lara highlighted uncertainty over whether Pooran had been approached and conveyed his hopes for the West Indies to achieve success during their upcoming tour of England.
“Everyone would love to see Nicholas Pooran in a Test match. I don’t know if he was asked, I don’t know the situation. I’d love to see a Shai Hope back in the West Indies team. But we’ve got to play with what we have,” Lara stated.
“And what we have is a group of young players that want to play for West Indies, that want to play Test cricket. Hopefully, their style will come out and they can be successful,” he added.
The West Indies’ history in red-ball cricket in England has been disappointing, with their last series win on English soil dating back to 1988. In their 2020 tour, they managed to win the opening Test but faltered in the following two matches. On home turf in 2022, however, the West Indies clinched a Test series victory over England with a 1-0 margin.
This West Indies Can Stand Tall – Brian Lara
Brian Lara shared his delight regarding the West Indies’ historic Test triumph at the Gabba earlier this year against Australia. He underscored the significance of this victory for West Indies cricket, marking their first Test win in Australia in 27 years. Lara commended the young cricketers for their resilience and unwavering determination on the field.
“This West Indies team can stand tall today, West Indies cricket can stand tall today. When you’re in Australia, you understand there’s going to be that slight arrogance. The final day, they felt it was going to be an easy task. I was just very proud of these young cricketers. Twenty-seven years it took us to win a Test match in Australia. I couldn’t be a happier West Indian,” Lara added.
The England vs West Indies Test series kicks off on July 10 at Lord’s in London, notable as James Anderson’s farewell from international cricket. The second Test will commence at Trent Bridge on July 18, followed by the final match at Edgbaston starting on July 26.
England currently ranks at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) table among nine teams, with just three wins from ten matches. Meanwhile, the West Indies hold the sixth position, having secured one win in four matches, maintaining a Points Percentage (PCT) of 33.33.
