Our main handicap was the new coaching staff - it will take time for them to understand the players Brian Lara

West Indies captain Brian Lara is mystified as to why he did not have a say in selection matters during the triangular VB Series in Australia.

Lara's team failed to reach the finals after one win and four losses.

He said: "You would think someone who is in charge of the team and had won the ICC Champions Trophy would have had something to do with the selection.

"Unfortunately, this was not the case." Lara landed in Barbados with the rest of the squad late on Thursday night.

It was the first tour under new Australian coach Bennett King, who by contrast has a major say in selection.

Lara said: "If you have a new selection policy and there is a coach who has a lot of say in the process and does not have the experience of knowing West Indies cricket, then there will be areas in which you will fall down.

"But I'm sure the selectors are astute enough to know what's happening in West Indies cricket, the right players that are needed, and we will hopefully see some improvement the next time we take the field."

Under a new policy, Lara's position as captain was not confirmed until the squad had been selected.

This was despite him leading West Indies to an unexpected triumph in September when they lifted the Champions Trophy in England.

We will have to take two steps backward before we take a step forward

Lara was still able to look on the bright side, however.

He insisted that if West Indies had beaten Pakistan in Perth on Tuesday to qualify for the finals, they would have had a "very good chance" of lifting the trophy.

The Trinidadian superstar added: "Our main handicap was that we had a new coaching staff and it will take time for them to gel and understand the players.

"I think it's going to work out in the long run but we will have to take two steps backward before we take a step forward."