by MIKE KING

SIR VIV RICHARDS wants to see Ramnaresh Sarwan call the shots in West Indies cricket.

Sir Viv, a former West Indies selector and master batsman with 24 Test hundreds, said he had seen how players looked to Sarwan for guidance, describing him as the outstanding candidate to replace the retired Brain Lara.

"Captains, in my opinion, command respect," Sir Viv said at a Press conference at the plush Hilton Barbados yesterday.

"When I was on tour with them, when he had his opportunities to be captain, just seeing the way the players stuck to him, that's the thing selectors must look at. Just like a honeycomb, all of the guys felt comfortable around him.

"This is how I like to see my captain operate. Not someone who is on Cloud 9. Being able to have that sort of interaction with the players and other comfortable factors to have a successful team is important. I feel that Sarwan has some of these qualities."

Sarwan, who turns 27 in June, hit a total of 375 runs in the World Cup and was the team's only batsman to average more than 40.

Prior support

Sir Viv, who never lost any of his 12 Test series as captain, winning eight and drawing four, said he had previously nominated Sarwan as captain, but that the player had not stepped up to take on the role.

"He didn't quite show the determination and the desire that individuals when asked to captain should," he said.

West Indies has been looking for on-field leadership for some time, three times appointing Lara as captain, each ending in abysmal failure.

Last week, the flamboyant Lara ended his illustrious career after West Indies' final match in the World Cup in which they won just one match in the crucial Super 8 segment.

Sarwan, who has the experience of 65 Tests and 124 ODIs, has been Lara's deputy since 2003. Just recently, he suggested he was ready for the responsibility.

"If given the opportunity I will grab it with both hands," said Sarwan, who has led the West Indies in four One-Day Internationals, winning three. * mikeking@nationnews.com