Not what Lara's doctor ordered

West Indies 337 v Kent

Brian Lara's tour was under examination again yesterday after he had been dismissed for a duck by a doctor at Canterbury. Lara survived three deliveries from Kent's Julian Thompson, then edged the fourth.

Lara is alone among the eight specialist West Indian batsmen not to have made a century on this trip. Seventeen innings have brought Lara seven scores of 50 or more - hardly disastrous but not what we have come to expect.

"If Brian makes 50, people's perception is that he's failed," tour manager Wes Hall said. "Today he got a good ball. Someone will pay."

Thompson, a house surgeon at Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital during the close season, eventually conceded 72 runs from 11 overs as West Indies reached 337 all out.

Earlier, the 26-year-old struck twice in five balls to leave the visitors 0 for two. Sherwin Campbell was bowled second over by a ball that struck him on the body and rolled back into the stumps. Then Lara pushed forward and was caught by Steve Marsh. Williams hit 27 boundaries in a stand of 223 with Jimmy Adams.