| Brian Lara is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen of | | | | assumed the West Indies captaincy for the first time |
| all time and certainly one of the best of the modern | | | | in 1998. After what he termed "moderate success |
| era. The former left-handed West Indian batsman | | | | and abject failures" as West Indies captain, he |
| mesmerised cricket fans and bowlers alike with his | | | | resigned the captaincy in the early part of the year |
| batting ability. You know that a batsman has left an | | | | 2000. |
| indelible mark on the game when he has a signature | | | | Lara had been the captain of the West Indies team |
| shot. In Lara's case, he had a few signature shots. | | | | on three occasions. Each stint ended in somewhat |
| Brian Lara will be remembered in the cricketing world | | | | controversial circumstances. His last stint as captain |
| for much more than his unique, stylish batting and | | | | actually ended with his resignation from international |
| huge scores. As at 2010, he is the world record | | | | cricket at the age of 38- an age where he was still in |
| holder for the highest individual scores in both Test | | | | top form. His departure came at the end of the |
| and First class innings. His Test-best is 400 not out, | | | | West Indies' World Cup campaign in 2007. Lara still |
| while his First Class best is 501. What is even more | | | | managed to play a couple First-class games for |
| remarkable is that he reclaimed the record for the | | | | Trinidad and Tobago in the 2007/2008 season, where |
| highest individual Test score mere months after | | | | he piled on a massive score against Guyana. His |
| Australia's Matthew Hayden captured it. So far, he is | | | | season ended prematurely when Lionel Baker of the |
| the only man in Test history to reclaim that Test | | | | Leeward Islands team fractured his forearm with a |
| batting record. | | | | bouncer. |
| After his international debut in 1990, Lara was | | | | Lara played for several major teams since he made |
| recognised as an emerging talent in world cricket. He | | | | his First-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the |
| stamped his authority with his maiden Test century | | | | 1987/1988 season. His ODI debut for the West |
| against Australia at Sydney in 1992. He compiled a | | | | Indies came two years later against Pakistan. Other |
| huge score of 277. The score itself wasn't the | | | | teams that Lara played for include Northern Tranvaal |
| marvel for many cricket pundits. It was the way in | | | | (RSA), Warwickshire (England), Mumbai Champs |
| which he dominated the Australian bowling- attacking, | | | | (India) and the ICC World XI. |
| but never offering a chance. He was only dismissed | | | | At the end of his career, Brian Lara has healthy |
| by the run-out route- a testament to the quality of | | | | averages in Test, First-class and ODI matches. He |
| his innings. | | | | also accumulated over 22,000 international runs in his |
| His early fame and prima donna-like behaviour after | | | | 18 years of international cricket. Undeniably, Brian Lara |
| he first broke the world record in 1994 made his | | | | is a living legend of the game of cricket and the |
| relationship with cricket and fans a bittersweet one. | | | | greatest West Indian batsman. Whether the criterion |
| He was revered but disliked by many. Some probably | | | | is run scored, style or averages, Lara has to be |
| liked and disliked him simultaneously. A lot of his | | | | considered as one of the top. For his cricketing |
| detractors probably never understood the kind of | | | | exploits, he remains an inspiration to many young |
| scrutiny and non-cricketing pressure that his | | | | cricketers, particularly batsmen, in Trinidad and |
| worldwide fame (at age 23) brought. Brian Lara | | | | Tobago. |