Windies calm over Lara build-up

[Anguillan newsboy]

West Indies coach Bennett King is not worried by captain Brian Lara's lack of match practice before the World Cup.

The hosts, who open the tournament against Pakistan on Tuesday, warm up against India in Jamaica on Friday.

Lara, who has been carrying a knee problem, did not bat in the practice victory against Kenya last Tuesday.

"Within the space of one or two days Brian is usually back to his best because of how much work he has done before," said King.

"He is very keen to play, he is like a spring chicken at the moment. He is jumping out of his seat to play."

After returning from the tour of India, Lara, who has 10,136 one-day runs under his belt, was also forced to sit out the Caribbean domestic series final.

He allowed seven other players batting practice against Kenya rather than taking to the crease himself.

We're pretty comfortable in our minds and we know what sort of scores we're likely to play in the tournament
Rahul Dravid

But, while the home side's batting was impressive, they allowed the African minnows to rack up 247-7 in reply.

"We were disappointed with some aspects of the Kenyan game," King told Jamaica's Gleaner newspaper.

"We are bowling far too many wides - three to four overs worth. That is an area in which we need to improve.

"We are also giving up boundaries off the last ball of overs. We need to start working on finishing our overs properly."

India completed a crushing win over the Netherlands on Tuesday but captain Rahul Dravid knows their next warm-up game will be more testing.

"These games allow you to play as many players as possible. We're still trying to fine-tune a few things," he said.

"We're pretty comfortable in our minds and we know what sort of scores we're likely to play in the tournament

"It's really a chance to give everyone in the squad a good bowling opportunity, and as much time in the middle with whatever skill they're doing."

After the match India head for Trinidad for their Group B games against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda.