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Lara snubbed by Windies selectors

Beleaguered Windies superstar Brian Lara received a further snub from the West Indies selectors, when they failed to name a captain while selecting the provisional squad of 19 for the World Cup.

Lara has come under intense pressure both from the public and the West Indies board, following six straight defeats in as many Tests -- 5-0 in South Africa followed by a 312-run loss to Australia in the first Test of the ongoing Frank Worrell Trophy series.

At the end of the South African tour, the Windies selectors named Lara captain only for the first two Tests against Australia, warning him that his performance, and interaction with fellow players, would be under scrutiny.

At the time, Lara had said that the Windies team was aware of the pressure, but that he hoped the corner had been turned and that he was sure performances would improve in the days to come.

What transpired was another huge defeat, in course of which the Windies were bowled out for just 51 in the second innings -- the side's lowest ever Test score.

Indications are that the freefall continues, for the Windies team, once proud holders of the title of unofficial, yet undisputed, champions of the world.

Ironically, Australia hammered the first nail into the Windies coffin four years ago, when the side last visited the Caribbean. At that time, the Test series was billed as the decider for the world champions tag.

Australia went out winners by a 2-1 margin in the four Test series at that time -- and ended an unbroken run that stretched 15 years and 29 series, during which the Windies had never, ever, tasted defeat.

The following summer, England held the mighty Carribbeans to a 2-2 draw in the West Indies. Then came the sensational loss to Kenya in the 1996 World Cup.

In 1997, the West Indies suffered its first ever whitewash in 68 years, when it lost 3-0 to Pakistan.

That whitewash was followed by the sensational 5-0 blank out at the hands of South Africa in the 1998-1999 series -- and close on its heels follows the first Test defeat at the hands of Australia, with that humiliating dismissal for 51 runs.

Lara, holder of the records for the highest score in first class cricket as also in Test cricket, has been facing the brunt of the flak -- and another defeat in the second Test against Australia which starts in Jamaica on Saturday, is expected to spell the end of his reign as captain.

It is in this context that the Windies selectors have refused to name a captain for the provisional squad, clearly signalling that the skipper of the moment is still under observation.

The 19-man party contains six players who have played in the English county circuit -- Lara for Warwickshire, Jimmy Adams for Nottinghamshire, Curtly Ambrose for Northamptonshire, Carl Hooper for Kent, Phil Simmons (Leicestershire) and Courtney Walsh for Gloucestershire.

The final squad of 15 has to be announced on or before March 31 -- but Lara's fate is expected to be decided by the middle of next week, when the second Test against Australia ends.

Interestingly, seemingly sure picks like Philo Wallace, Franklyn Rose and Nixon McClean find no place in the provisional list.

The provisional squad of 19 reads: Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Keith Arthurton, Ridley Jacobs, Rawl Lewis, Jimmy Adams, Courtney Walsh, Suruj Ragoonath, Stuart Williams, Junior Murray, Mervyn Dillon, Curtly Ambrose, Shivanarine Chanderpaul, Reon King, Neil McGarrell, Dave Joseph, Henderson Bryan, Clayton Lambert, Phil Simmons.

Agencies