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Lara is smiling again

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI JULY 4. The much-awaited phase has finally arrived. The magician has reinvented himself. Brian Charles Lara is smiling again, and there can be no better sight in world cricket than that of the genius in full flow.

Tussles against the Baggy Green have, more often than not, brought the best out of Lara. But the Caribbean star feels that the recent series against the Aussies could probably be the catalyst that will see the West Indies' fortunes on the ascent again.

"Australia is a really good side. We lost both the one-day and Test series, but our team, young that it is, has learnt a lot from it and the results showed against Sri Lanka (WI won the Test series). I guess we will move up, but it all began from the series against Australia," said the West Indies skipper who arrived in the city on Friday to launch the MRF-Formule Mondiale karting championship on Sunday along with Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar.

Waugh arrived from Kolkata on Thursday night and Tendulkar reached the city on Friday evening.

"The team is improving, but we unfortunately didn't do well in the World Cup... didn't make the Super Six stage. But I must say that we have a very good group of young guys. Inexperienced they might be, but very, very talented."

Lara, holder of the highest individual score in both Test and first class cricket, said he was enjoying captaincy this time around. "It's nice to be in-charge again. And the responsibility has definitely improved my game. It also helps when you have young players around you... they are very charged up."

Lara said Sir Viv Richards, as Chairman of the selection committee, has had a huge positive influence on the team. "Viv knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. Also, having been a successful captain, he understands a captain's needs. We have a very good relationship. He's thrilled with the side's performances and is looking forward to future successes."

Regarding the on-field spat between Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lara said, "These things happen in international sport, especially when you are playing for the country with passion running high. It turns ugly sometimes. It's part of the game really, it is forgotten then and there."

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