Brian Lara - FILE
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD, CMC
WEST INDIES CAPTAIN Brian Lara is endorsing a decision to eliminate back-to-back matches from the Digicel One-Day International Series against India.
The move was made after an original request from India to scrap the fourth and final Test was turned down by the West Indies Cricket Board.
India's call was made on the grounds of demanding schedule and against the growing trends that limited-overs matches on successive days have been reduced in recent years.
"I'm going to be biased. I'm 37 years old. They [back-to-back matches) are definitely too taxing," Lara told reporters yesterday ahead of the fourth match of the ODI series at the Queen's Park Oval.
"I played a lot of them in the past. It's tough playing on Saturday and Sunday."
The original schedule for this series included back-to-back weekend matches at Sabina Park and Queen's Park Oval, but after India's request, the Jamaica matches were played on a Thursday and a Saturday and the Trinidad games carded for Friday and Sunday.
Back-to-back matches have always been a major drawing card among Caribbean fans and usually attract almost packed houses.
"Most of our revenue is from gate receipts. We need a weekend to play that sort of cricket to get the crowds out," Lara said.
"Nowadays television plays a big part and people can afford to play games if the stadia are not full because the television rights and that sort of money is greater than anything else.
"In saying so, it is a good option that India exercised in getting that rest period between the two matches. Having it in Jamaica and here in Trinidad, I'm sure is going to be beneficial."
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