Brian Lara hints at return to West Indies set-up

West Indies batting great Brian Lara has said that he is willing to join other Caribbean cricket legends in rescuing the game in the region ahead of the winter tour of Australia.

The 40-year-old said he is willing to play his part in restoring Caribbean cricket to its former glory.

"Not much other than encouraging the guys," Lara said when asked on radio 2UE what his involvement in West Indies cricket was.

"There is so much wrong with it at the moment that I'm very happy that I'm not in there causing some of the problems. There (will be) some involvement in the future, I am almost certain that is going to be the situation,” The Independent quoted Lara, as saying further.

"I am not pushing myself on anyone and I've not been asked but I believe it's a fait accompli that the likes of Sir Vivian Richards or Gordon Greenidge (or myself)... we all have to play a significant part in West Indies cricket in the near future," he added.

Lara fears the players' strike coupled with Australia's hunger to make amends for their Ashes loss leaves West Indies in danger of heavy defeat during the upcoming three-Test series.

But long term he sees some hope for his former team on the back of the success in the Twenty20 version of the game.