Brian Lara is on a single-minded mission in the four Test series against England starting today at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

However the West Indies skipper?s primary intent has nothing to do with England feeling the wrath of his mighty bat ? though that may be involved ? but rather a determination to lead his side to a series victory over the visitors and reclaim the Wisden Trophy ? the symbol of Test supremacy between these teams.

?This is a special series for me because it may be my last series against England at home,? Lara said at the series launch.

?But most importantly it is because the Wisden Trophy is not in our hands. It hurt to lose it to England in 2000, having held it for such a long period of time. England are our biggest rivals and this was a bitter moment, not only for myself, but also for all the other members of the team.?

The 34-year-old Trinidadian said on his first tour of England in 1991 he realised that team was the West Indies? ?number one foe in world sport? ? something that?s clearly stuck with him.

?Sir Vivian Richards was captain of the West Indies and I immediately got a feeling of the competition that existed between the two teams. The trophy is currently in England?s hands and we will be fighting to get it back,? he said

On a personal level, this prolific scorer ? now boasting 9,157 Test runs with 24 centuries, 43 fifties and a 52.32 average ? sent an ominous warning to Michael Vaughan and company, declaring himself a better player than the 24-year-old who blazed to a world-record 375 against England ten years ago.

?I am mentally stronger, far more mature and less of a flash in the pan, which is what some people thought then,? said Lara, comparing himself now to when he posted the highest individual Test score in St. John?s, Antigua in 1994. That landmark was eclipsed by Australian opener Matthew Hayden last October; something of a blessing in disguise for the man he replaced.

?I think Matthew Hayden?s 380 has been tremendous for me. I was woken up at three o?clock in the morning and told the news, and then I lay in bed thinking.

?I think this may have given me the impetus to go on and achieve even greater things. By this I don?t necessarily mean breaking records, but by leaving a greater impact on the game than just one or two innings.?

The left-hander is also more comfortable with his senior role in the West Indies than before, noting that now he tries ?to lead by example?.

?A lot of guys appreciate that and it is an advantage to have somebody as captain whom the players feel they can look up to,? he added.

?Somebody whose door they can knock on to talk about anything on cricket or life.?