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West Indies Legend Brian Lara To Guide Test Team During India Series

image-ljo19kglLara joined the preparatory camp on July 3rd. (AP Photo)

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has joined the West Indies Test squad as a support staff member ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against India, commencing in Dominica on July 12. Lara will serve as a performance consultant for the West Indies during their home series against India.

"West Indies legend Brian Lara has joined the players in their camp at the CCG ahead of the series against India. Lara is a performance mentor," a post on Cricket West Indies' social media said.

The West Indies team began their preparatory camp on June 30, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Test regulars Jermaine Blackwood, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel in attendance.

Senior players like Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, and Roston Chase were not part of the 18-member squad announced by Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the preparatory camp but are likely to join the main Test squad once they arrive from Zimbabwe.

The upcoming two-match series will mark the beginning of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams, with the first Test match scheduled for July 12 and the second Test to follow on July 20. 

This Test series holds greater significance for the West Indies compared to India as it presents an opportunity for them to make up for their disappointing performance in the World Cup qualifiers.

West Indies, having secured the eighth position in the points table for the World Test Championship cycle 2021-23, is eager to begin the new cycle strongly with a series win over the two time WTC finalists- India.

With recent disappointing performances across red-ball and white-ball cricket, the addition of Lara to the team is expected to improve the West Indies' overall performance. While the true impact of Lara's involvement will only be known in due course, the West Indies team is currently going through a challenging phase.