West Indies players Marlon Samuels (right) and Dwayne Bravo (second right) race while teammates (from left) Brian Lara captain, Daren Ganga, Carlton Baugh and Chris Gayle look on during a team practice session at the Queen's Park Oval yesterday. The WI team will play Zimbabwe in the sixth and seventh ODIs at Queen's Park Oval today and tomorrow. Zimbabwe trail 0-4. One game was completely washed out. - Dellmar
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara enters the last two One-day Internationals against Zimbabwe today and tomorrow at Queen's Park Oval looking to gain a final boost of confidence ahead of next week's higher intensity tussles with India.
After clinching a series-winning fourth victory in the fifth ODI on Wednesday in St. Lucia, Lara acknowledged that his side was looking forward to the closing weekend of the series against Zimbabwe.
"We've been 100 per cent so far, and I like the mood in the camp," he told reporters on the eve of the match.
"It's not lackadaisical, it's full of confidence, and I really appreciate it."
He added: "Going into a tough two weeks coming up after this weekend, it is important to get the guys' confidence up and get them mentally strong for the task ahead against India."
Rahul Dravid's side arrived in the Caribbean yesterday looking to continue their steady rise up the ICC rankings.
The Indians are currently ranked third in the world and Lara dispelled notion that the series against Zimbabwe has been inadequate preparation for the Asian visitors.
"We can't do anything about who we play, but right now it's just confidence we are looking to gain," he said.
"With each victory and with each execution of our plans, you are getting the guys to feel a lot more confident about their ability to do well and that is great. It does not matter who are the opposition.
"I agree there is a disparity between West Indies and Zimbabwe and I think we should be showing it at this time and, hopefully, we should continue it this weekend."
West Indies have made two changes to their squad of 14 for the last two matches in keeping with their policy of rotation.
All-rounder Ian Bradshaw, who played in the first two matches in Antigua, has replaced opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon, who shared in the match-winning opening partnership with Chris Gayle in St. Lucia.
BAUGH CHANGE
The other change sees wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh gaining a place ahead of Denesh Ramdin, who is being rested.
Zimbabwe captain Terrence Duffin continued to speak of the learning experience his side has gained from the matches against the Windies ahead of a triangular series with Bermuda and Canada in Trinidad next week.
"We just have to keep working and keep trying to do the basics and, hopefully, a win will come," Duffin said.
"We will go into the triangular competition with the experience we have gained from this series. This series will be a big help for us and, hopefully, we can prove something there."
West Indies also won the first two ODIs by five wickets and 98 runs in Antigua and the fourth ODI by 82 runs last Sunday in Guyana. The third ODI also scheduled for Guyana was abandoned because of rain.
TEAMS:
WEST INDIES (from): Brian Lara (captain), Carlton Baugh, Jr., Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Dave Mohammed, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.
ZIMBABWE (from): Terrence Duffin (captain), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Keith Dabengwa, Ryan Higgins, Anthony Ireland, Blessing Mahwire, Keegan Meth, Tawanda Mupariwa, Piet Rinke, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Gregory Strydom, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya.
UMPIRES: Steve Bucknor, Billy Bowden, TV Replays: Billy Doctrove.
MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad.
