Brian Lara reached another half-century, this time with his age as 2nd May 2020 is his 51st birthday. The ‘Prince of Trinidad’ is one of the most renowned sportspersons of the world and one of the ‘Greatest of all time’ (G.O.A.T.) in the game of cricket. Lara first came into reckoning with school cricket heroics in the late ’80s and made his international debut in 1990, a year later than Sachin Tendulkar. Comparison with whom for world’s best batsman would become a constant theme throughout his career.
Although he played quite a few good innings, his 277 against Australia at Sydney in January 1993 was his breakthrough innings. By next year April, he already scored 375 to be the owner of the world record for the highest score in a test match. Then another world record 501 for Warwickshire in the county championship within next two months permanently put him in the list of all-time greats.
There are many memorable innings from Lara which has impressed both the fans and critics alike. His 153 against Australia, the world’s strongest team, to take his country to a one-wicket win is considered to be one of the greatest test innings ever played. He also had another 226 in that series which eventually made it a Lara vs Australia contest.
The West Indies cricket was in decline throughout the 90’s and there were many occasions when Lara was the sole run scorer with marginal support from the others. One big example was their tour of Sri Lanka in 2001. Sri Lanka won the test series 3-0 and margins of victory were 10 wickets, 131 runs and 10 wickets. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan took 50 wickets combined and dominated the West Indies batting barring Lara. Lara scored 178 (total 448), 40 (total 178), 74 (Total 191), 45 (Total 190), 221 (Total 390) and 130 (Total 362). This was his number in total 688 runs in series which his team lost 0-3 and where the second-highest scorer had just 318 runs.
Lara also reclaimed his world record of highest test innings by scoring 400 not out in 2004 after his record of 375 was broken by Matthew Hayden.
Lara always remained a special talent and a great student of the game. Now as analyst also he is getting praise from all quarters. Hope he will play a significant role in the revamp of West Indies cricket.
Here it's a compilation of Brian Lara's Stylish Shots
