Lara 'forgiven' by Windies

Lara 'forgiven' by Windies

Hall (right) said the board had buried the hatchet from Lara's last term in charge

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Wes Hall believes Brian Lara's reappointment as captain is an act of forgiveness.

Lara was surprisingly named captained on Monday for the home series against Australia and Sri Lanka, three years after quitting the same role.

His first stint as skipper was tainted by a discordant relationship with the WICB, reports of dressing room disputes and the rapidly declining form of the team.

But Lara was given the nod again on the recommendation of former West Indies players Gordon Greenidge and Joey Carew.

"We are a very forgiving people," said Hall.

"We feel that if the selectors recommend any player once, twice or three times, we should look at it.

"Mr Lara is now 33 years old and he was recommended again and the Board has accepted that recommendation."

Outgoing captain Carl Hooper was thought to be the favoured option of head selector Sir Vivian Richards.

But Richards welcomed the reappointment, citing Lara's one-man show against Australia when skipper in 1999 as a performance which would have swayed the board.

"When his back was against the wall, I personally felt he came through superbly," said Richards.

"He definitely stood his ground.

"This would be something that would have helped sway the individuals who would have made this decision."

Ramnaresh Sarwan, the 22-year-old middle-order batsman, was named vice-captain.