Cricket: Lara opts out of one-day matches in NZ

West Indies champion batsman Brian Lara wants to prolong his test career. Picture / Reuters

West Indies batting great Brian Lara's push to extend his test career means he will skip the one-day series in New Zealand next month.
Lara was missing from the West Indies one-day squad named yesterday although he will join the tourists for the three-match test series.

West Indies selection panel convener Joey Carew said the panel agreed to Lara's plea that he wanted to reduce his one-day appearances in an effort to prolong his test career.

The five-match one-day series starts in Wellington on February 18 and Lara will join the side ahead of the first test, starting in Auckland on March 9.

Lara, 36, averages 41.41 from 259 one-dayers, while he has played 121 tests, and last year surpassed Australian Allan Border as the most prolific run scorer in tests as he lifted his career aggregate to 11,204.

The West Indies selectors have named separate squads of 14 for the one-dayers and 15 for the tests.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been retained as captain after speculation that Daren Ganga, the West Indies A skipper, would replace him.

Ganga has, however, been recalled to both the test and one-day squads.

Batsman Marlon Samuels and fast bowlers Tino Best and Jermaine Lawson have been dropped from the team who played a test series against Australia late last year.

Fast bowler Corey Collymore has been sidelined after a knee operation.

Despite a woeful first year as captain, Chanderpaul backs himself to help the team improve their results in 2006.

Chanderpaul said he was excited to again be named to lead the touring party to New Zealand.

Thrust into the role as skipper early in 2005 when Lara was forced out by a contract dispute, Chanderpaul led the team to eight test losses, two draws and just one victory.

"Last year was a tough year for me, but I am always willing to fight for West Indies cricket," he said.

"As captain of West Indies I understand there will be some criticism and that comes with the territory.

"Leading the West Indies is an honour and a pleasure for me. We all have to come together and focus on one goal - we have to be all heading in one direction. It's a matter of going out every time and trying to lead from the front.

"The detractors will always be there but as a captain I have to be focused and concentrate on my job and my team."

Chanderpaul said he was confident West Indies would do well in the three tests and five one-day internationals in New Zealand.

"New Zealand are a tough opponent and will be even tougher at home," he said.

"They can be beaten but we have to do the right things right all the time.

"We have to match them and be even better than they are. However it's not going to happen unless we get it right on and off the field. That's the way I see it."

- NZPA