LANCASHIRE League run-machine Keith Arthurton believes the return of Brian Lara can help the West Indies beat England this summer.

Lara marks the end of his international exile when the first Test gets underway at Edgbaston tomorrow.

And Arthurton, who has played in 33 Test matches for the West Indies, believes that Lara's return can only be good for the tourists' prospects of ending their recent dismal away form and extending England's 30-year wait for a series win between the two countries.

"I know what it's like being in there with the guys and obviously any team would love to have such a great player like Brian as part of their unit.

"I feel if Brian hadn't come over, England would have had a better chance of beating us in the series.

"He is the one who can make the difference in the batting department," said Arthurton, whose own summer scehdule is concentrated on helping Nelson try and retain the Transco Lancashire League title.

The Leeward Islander believes the West Indies' batting will hold the key as he has every faith in the bowling attack again spear-headed by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh with back up from the pacey Reon King and either Franklyn Rose or Nixon Mclean.

"We all know the bowling will hold its own. Those guys (Ambrose and Walsh) keep going. They have done it over and over again and they have tremendous experience in English conditions. "In England with the atmosphere it's not about bowling fast. It's about getting the ball in the right spot.

"The other guys will obviously take a leaf out of Curtly and Courtney's book. It's a hard act to follow for them but with those two on the field it's great for them and they are good enough," Arthurton added.

The West Indies' batting order is a mixture of experience and exciting newcomers like Wavell Hinds and possibly Ramnaresh Sarwan, and how they adapt to the English pitches will be important.

However, Arthurton is optmistic that the West Indies can add another series win to the ones they enjoyed against Zimbabwe and Pakistan over the winter.

"If the guys live up to expectation there's no reason why they can't pull it off," he said.

"It will be a competitive series. I just wish the guys all the best and hope that we can come out on top.

"On the world stage England are our closest rivals and for the guys, not just in the team, but those playing club cricket and West Indian people living in this country, I hope we can hold our heads up high."

West Indian cricket has been in the doldrums but their successful domestic season suggests they are on the rise again, thanks in no small part to the captaincy of Jimmy Adams who, Arthurton believes, should take a lot of credit for the resurgence since he replaced Lara at the helm. "Since Jimmy took over there has been a great improvement in terms of team morale and I think the guys are heading in the right direction," Arthurton added.

"We as spectators have a tendency to pull the captain when the team isn't doing well so you have to give credit to them when they are doing well. You can see the transformation he has made.

"Every team goes through cycles. We've been through a transition period and we're on our way back up again.

"We never say die. We always say cricket belongs in the West Indies and we always go out to fight and win."