World Cup 2015: West Indies Have the Team to Beat New Zealand, Brian Lara to NDTV
Brian Lara picks India to play the Aussies and backs his home country West Indies to beat New Zealand and face the South Africans.
The knockout berths are sealed and the ICC World Cup is now entering the business end. All the Test nations, except England, have made it to the quarter-finals and will be locking horns against each other after a two day break. Sri Lanka take on South Africa at Sydney, Bangladesh face India at Melbourne, Australia face off with Pakistan at Adelaide while New Zealand will be tested by the West Indies at Wellington. (Who Plays Who in Quarters)
Brian Lara has already picked his semifinal favourites. He sees India playing the Aussies and backs his home country West Indies to beat New Zealand and face inconsistent South Africa.
Talking exclusively to NDTV, Lara said, "I feel a bit patriotic but I see West Indies beating New Zealand in Wellington because they have the team."
The former West Indian skipper was impressed by Jason Holder's leadership and puts his hopes on the young captain to see his team through against the Kiwis.
West Indies, earlier on Sunday, thrashed UAE in their last pool game and did that without Chris Gayle, who was out due to a back injury. Lara is hopeful that if West Indies can keep up the intensity, the Kiwis will find it difficult to brush aside Holder's men.
The Trinidadian though, was not happy with Dwayne Smith's form and insisted that Johnson Charles should be pushed up to open alongside Chris Gayle. He also suggested that West Indies needed a technically competent player at number three.
"West Indies have to bat technically better batsmen at three", said Lara, "someone like a (Denesh) Ramdin or (Lendl) Simmons." (Highlights | Pics | Scorecard)
Lara pointed out the fact that Simmons has the technical prowess to occupy the crease in bowling friendly conditions.
"Lendl can anchor the innings and bat for a long time", said the left-handed legend.
It has to be a massive effort from the West Indies to topple the in-form Black Caps on their home soil but as Lara said, in a World Cup knock-out game, anything can happen.