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Windies still have mental edge: Lara

June 10, 2006 02:44 IST
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West Indies captain Brian Lara believes his side's series win in the one-day internationals gives them the mental edge over India in the second Test starting on Saturday.

After dominating the first three days, West Indies just scraped a draw in the first Test in Antigua when their last wicket pair survived the final 19 balls of the match.

"We are still the team that has won more matches over the last two to three weeks," Lara told reporters.

"We are going into the second Test match with a one-day success and a drawn first Test.

"We still have the psychological advantage and we know that we can do it."

Lara said West Indies had landed the early blows in the first Test.

"We know that India has character, we know that they have a strong will to come back and they showed that," he said.

"The fact of the matter is that we put our heads in front, and if we did it in a proper manner we could have gone on to win the first Test. But we have a lot to take from that Test."

With fast bowler Fidel Edwards ruled out with a hamstring injury, his brother Pedro Collins has been included in the squad and will compete for the final place with Jerome Taylor in the only change to the West Indies team.

Indian fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has been sidelined with a sore heel and his place is expected to be taken by left-arm pace bowler Irfan Pathan.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid was heartened by the performance of his team in the first Test but conceded that that would have little bearing on the second.

"It doesn't matter now what happened in the first test because we have to start fresh, this is a new match," Dravid told reporters.

"Maybe West Indies will be confident that they saved that match, but we can take heart from some of the things we did.

"We are also confident going into this Test."

India would have gained that confidence by outplaying the West Indies on the final two days of the first test.

"We know we have a pretty young side that can do some good things if they play good cricket right through the five days," Dravid said.

"So it is important for us to start this Test well and see if we can create some pressure on the West Indies early in the match.

"That's something which can hopefully make them crack."

The Beausejour Stadium, which staged its first international match is 2002, has hosted two matches. Both were drawn.

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Source: REUTERS
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