Lara calls for Caribbean cricket academy

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has reiterated his call for a Caribbean cricket academy.



The 40-year-old Lara, who quit international cricket in 2007 following the Cricket World Cup in the region, says an academy would kick start development and helps put West Indies back on sound footing.



Lara was speaking during a visit to Trinity School in Croydon to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday.



Lara, one of the finest Test batsmen ever, has in the past called on Caribbean cricket authorities to set up a state-of-the-art academy to arrest the declining standards of cricket in the region.



To date, however, Lara said he had seen no attempt to establish such an institution despite the benefits to be derived.



Lara says the structure in the Caribbean is not good and the team is still build on natural ability.



Lara further says players are learning about the game much faster because of the amount of technology available. He says West Indies need to head in that direction.