Sir Gary Sobers has given the West Indies a lift ahead of the forthcoming series against India by visiting the squad training camp in Trinidad.

Test legend Sobers gave a behind closed doors talk to the squad at their hotel and then spent time the following day coaching the batsmen and bowlers.

"Sir Gary was brilliant. He spoke to them about so many different things. He spoke about cricket, life in general and West Indian price," said team manager Ricky Skerritt.

Sobers is the greatest West Indies all-rounder, having scored 8,032 runs and taken 235 wickets and 109 catches in 93 Tests.

His coaching session was focused on the left-handed batsmen in the squad, including Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Wavell and Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Mahendra Nagamootoo and Dinanath Ramnarine.

And it is the performance of Lara, which may hold the key to the team's hopes of ending a five-Test losing streak.

He is still recovering from a dislocated elbow but is confident of being ready to face the Indians and is looking to repeat the prolific form he showed in Sri Lanka last year before suffering the injury.

"Lara does a good job of lowering people's expectations. But I know Brian very well and can tell you that he has been working very hard and is making rapid progress.

"He feels strongly that he will be fit and ready for India in the first Test on the 11th (of next month)," said Skerritt.