 Lara helped the West Indies to a 4-1 one-day series win against India |
West Indies captain Brian Lara says he is delighted with the way the team has performed since he became skipper for the third time. Under the guidance of Lara, 37, the revitalised West Indies have just beaten high-flying India 4-1 in a one-day series in the Caribbean.
"I'm pleased with the way it has gone so far," Lara told Test Match Special.
"I thought it was a situation where my experience was definitely needed. I am a true lover of West Indies cricket."
Lara's playing record means he is one of the game's modern greats but his record as captain is moderate, with 10 wins in 40 Tests, although one-day results have been better.
He had to overturn a decision to step back from one-day cricket to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul after a miserable 13-month term for the Guyanese batsman.
But Lara said he had no misgivings about taking it back on.
 |  I know with the captaincy you're put up there and people throw a lot of stones at you when things aren't going too well |
"To just meander round for the rest of my career was always going to be a difficult task for me, so I think the added responsibility has definitely rejuvenated me," he said.
"It's been good. It's a situation where I'm trying my best to enhance each and every single individual's game, so when I do leave I leave a team that can take us back to where we belong.
"Every time I moved away from the captaincy, or it was taken away or whatever the situation was, I always felt that supporting the next person in charge and ensuring he was there for a long time was always my goal.
"That never came to fruition and I found myself, not only on one occasion but now on a second occasion, having been asked to lead the team again.
"I know with the captaincy you're put up there and people throw a lot of stones at you when things aren't going too well.
| LARA'S RECORD AS SKIPPER 1996-97 to 1999-2000
18 Tests, w 6, l 10, d 2
44 ODIs, w 20, l 23, nr 1 2002-03 to 2005
22 Tests, w 4, l 13, d 5
41 ODIs, w 17, l 19, nr 5 |
"But I've been able to handle it before and I can handle it once more."
The West Indies will host the World Cup in 2007 and Lara admitted their improved form has come at just the right time.
"Everyone knows the World Cup is going to be a great event and everyone wants to see West Indies play a major part," said Lara.
"To be 12 months away from it and beating one of the top teams in the world convincingly, in the actual place where the World Cup is going to be played, is a good sign.
"If we play well we can lead the way in terms of getting West Indies cricket back to some sort of normalcy - we have had some tumultuous times.
"We can do only what we can and that is perform well on the field and hope that everyone follows."
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