BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) _ The world gets its last chance to see Brian Lara play international cricket on Saturday when the West Indies plays England in a World Cup Super 8s match that has been given unexpected significance.
In World Cup terms the game is pointless.
Neither team can reach the semifinals. But Lara's surprise announcement on Thursday that he is retiring from all cricket after the match may bring home fans out in their thousands to bid farewell to the batsman known as ``The Prince.''
Lara is the world's top test run scorer and also holds records for the highest test score (400) and highest first class score (501) achieved during a 17-year career.
The match will also be a last one for England coach Duncan Fletcher, who announced on Thursday he is stepping down after the tournament.
Bragging rights will also be at stake because the West Indies begin a four-test series of England in less than a month.
``We have a lot to play for in terms of pride and in terms of going to England,'' said vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, the favourite to replace Lara as captain.
``It's very important for us to win. We want to draw first blood.''
Both teams have disappointed their followers during the World Cup. At least the West Indies was efficient in its 99-run victory over Bangladesh on Thursday.
Lara's team had lost heavily to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa _ the four teams that have filled the semifinal spots. That left West Indies hoping to salvage some pride from its last two outings.
``We did not play well and were beaten by better teams,'' Lara said. ``It's nice to get back on the winning trail. We had a slow start, but scored an emphatic win in the end.''
Openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith failed again. But experienced Guyanese left hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul put together a patient 50, supported by Lara and Marlon Samuels, before Sarwan's unbeaten 91 pushed the score to 230-5.
In reply Daren Powell and Corey Collymore were in the wickets as Bangladesh was bowled out for 131.
England's players desperately need to put the humiliation of their nine-wicket defeat against South Africa behind them. That defeat sent England out of the World Cup, but it was more the manner of the loss that annoyed fans and led to rare booing of the England team as it left the field.
Captain Michael Vaughan, who will lead England's test team against the West Indies but who may be replaced as one-day captain under new coach Peter Moores, said he understood the fans' reaction,
``It was a horrible feeling to be booed off the field, but it was totally justified,'' he said. ``We let the supporters down.''
England may give a game to rarely used Liam Plunkett and Jamie Dalrymple.
