KINGSTON, June 29: West Indies captain Brian Lara insisted on Thursday that his side are capable of snatching a series win against India.

Lara was speaking ahead of the fourth and final Test, which opens on Friday at Sabina Park with the series level after three matches.

The first three games at the Antigua Recreation Ground, the Beausejour Cricket Ground, and Warner Park all ended in draws, and both Lara and India coach Greg Chappell had to acknowledge that neither seems capable of delivering the knockout punch.

Both teams flew into the Jamaica capital on Tuesday with their sights set firmly on a victory that would clinch the series.

“I think it is important that this Test doesn't end in a draw as well,” remarked Lara.

“It would be disappointing to play four Tests and end up with four drawn matches, so I would really like to see the skill levels of the players both in batting and bowling improve, and hopefully we'll have a good Test.”

After hanging on for tense draws in the first two Tests, West Indies scared the living daylights out of the Indians with a solid batting performance at Basseterre that gave them hope of victory.

“I am definitely seeing an improvement in our performances,” Lara said.

Victory would give West Indies their first series success in four years over a side rated higher in the ICC Rankings.

Ironically, a victory over Sri Lanka at Sabina Park, where Lara sprung the surprise package of Fidel Edwards on the unsuspecting visitors, did the trick, but the batting superstar has no such aces up his sleeve this time.

Probable teams:

WEST INDIES: Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Pedro Collins, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore.

INDIA: Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rahul Dravid (captain), Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and Brian Jerling (both South Africa).

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).—AFP