Lara admits to 'desperate times'

Brian Lara needs to find answers soon to arrest West Indies' untimely loss of form - and stop supporters, as well as selectors, losing faith in the hosts' World Cup aspirations.

Thursday's seven-wicket setback against the Kiwis left him acknowledging "desperate times" - and also fighting his corner against reported criticism from selector and former Windies fast bowler Andy Roberts, who has questioned whether anyone other than Lara has a say in selection.

"I think we picked the best team possible. I don't think we compromised West Indies cricket," he said, having taken the field yesterday with a team surprisingly missing strike bowler Jerome Taylor and instead including an extra batsman in Lendl Simmons.

"I can simply say to Andy Roberts that I did not select this World Cup squad. I was not there in the meeting - the team was selected without me. I still go out there and fight my very best with the squad given to me."

Lara is calling on the whole of the Caribbean to get behind the team before it is too late.

"We all have West Indies' interests at heart; if people want to be critical at this point in time, I don't think it is fair," he said.

"We just have to try to play to the best of our ability and see if we can get to the semi-finals."