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Happy Birthday to The Prince Brian Lara! Here are the top 5 innings of the West Indies legend

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One of the most iconic players in world cricket Brian Charles Lara turns a year older today, 2 May. From 1990 to 2007, he played for the national team for 17 years.

Lara is the highest Test scorer for the West Indies.  He has scored 11953 runs in 131 matches.  It also includes 48 half-centuries, 34 centuries and 09 double centuries.

Although Brian Lara has been retired for many years, some of his records are still written in his name.

That’s,  He is also the only batter to score 400 runs in an innings in Test cricket. He smashed 400* runs against England in St John’s in April 2004.

Lara also has the highest individual score in first-class cricket when he cracked an unbeaten 501 for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.

The fastest 10,000 runs in a Test match, the highest score by a Test captain in an innings, to name a few.

 

Lara, who has played 299 ODIs, has a score of 10,405.  That includes 64 half-centuries and 19 centuries.

In Brian Lara’s 17 years of cricket career, he has played some great innings.  Here are some of the revolutionary innings,

#1. Debut Test century

In 1993, 23-year-old Brian Lara scored his first Test century. Batting first, Australia scored 503 for 09 in the first innings.  The West Indies openers could not get off to a successful start.  The first two wickets fell for 31 runs.

However, Brian Lara, along with Sir Vivian Richard, played his fifth match to take the West Indies to 324.  Lara, who scored his maiden century, scored 277 runs with 38 fours.  Ian Chappell once said:

“He was eventually run out probably the only way the Aussies could have got him out in that innings.”

#2. Highest individual test score an inning

West Indies batted first and scored 751 for five in their first innings against England in 2004.

Brian Lara became the highest run scorer in an international Test innings in this match. He scored 400 runs off 582 balls with 43 fours and 04 sixes. This record has yet to be broken by any player.

#3. In 1994,  374 runs against England

In 1994, Brian Lara made history at St John’s Stadium by becoming the highest run scorer in an innings in Test form. Batting first, West Indies scored 593 for 05 in the first innings. Brian Lara scored 375 off 538 balls with 45 fours.

Earlier, West Indies’ Sir Garfield Sobers scored 365 against Pakistan in 1958, the highest Test score, and Lara broke that record in this match.

#4. In 1999, Unbeaten 153 against Australia

In the 1999 match against Australia in Bridgetown, Australia batted first and scored 490 while the West Indies scored 329 in the first innings. The bowlers were able to restrict Australia to 146 in the second innings.

Accordingly, the match was won by a target of 308. However, the West Indies were in a difficult position, losing five wickets for 105 runs. But Lara, who took charge of the victory, led the team to an excellent 156 off 256 balls with 19 fours and a six.

#5. Final Double Century.

The West Indies toured Australia in 2005 but failed. That was due to losing 3 matches played. However, the West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. It was not a successful start and Lee sent all three first wickets back to the pavilion for a low score.

However, Lara’s last Test double century came off 298 balls with 22 fours and 226 runs. He led the team to a respectable 405, with no player other than Lara scoring a half-century.

“My Career Was Almost Finished After Car Crash” – Nicholas Pooran revealed that his cricketing career nearly ended at the age of 19

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West indies former captain, Nicholas Pooran, recently revealed that his cricketing career nearly ended at the age of 19. Pooran disclosed that he suffered from the traumatic aftermath of a severe car crash.

He also talked about all the challenges he faced in his journey back to the cricket field. The West Indies player revealed that this horrifying accident took place a decade ago.

Nicholas Pooran and his accident

Nicholas Pooran, who led his team in the IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings, shared the details of the life-altering incident. He stated that the accident that took place a decade ago changed his life. Recalling the fateful day, Pooran narrated how he was returning home from training.

After which a reckless maneuver by another vehicle led to a collision. He stated that the impact left him unconscious. He added that he was left with injuries that included a ruptured left patellar tendon and a fractured right ankle.

Pooran, during the interview, stated, “I was knocked out and then I couldn’t remember what happened. I just woke up at the accident and I was like, ‘How did this happen?’ I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that this happened. I was taken in an ambulance, couldn’t move my legs.”

The 29-year-old West Indies player added, “My left patellar tendon had ruptured, and I had a fractured right ankle. I couldn’t straighten my leg. At first, I didn’t really know what happened. I wasn’t too sure. People kept telling me, ‘Move your toes, move your toes!’ I knew I couldn’t move my knee, so I knew something’s definitely wrong.”

It was then stated by Pooran that the aftermath of the crash led him into months of uncertainty and rehabilitation. However, with determination and resilience, he underwent two surgeries and completed his painstaking recovery journey.

Lucknow Super Giants’ player added, “But there are times when you go into a place where you’re very depressed and frustrated because you want the healing process to happen so fast. But it’s difficult,” Pooran had said last year.

“Sometimes you don’t see progress. In life, you want to see progress, you want it to happen so fast, but it doesn’t happen the whole time. It’s very challenging, but need to believe in yourself.” added Pooran.

“We have just four Tests remaining” – Andre Coley says West Indies eye a strong finish to 2024 with Bangladesh series

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West Indies are eyeing a strong finish to 2024 as they take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, starting tomorrow in Antigua.

With a disappointing home series loss to South Africa in August still fresh in memory, head coach Andre Coley believes a victory is essential to build momentum ahead of their Pakistan tour in January.

“Ending the year with a win is very important. We need to bounce back from the disappointment of the South Africa series.” said Coley during the pre-series press conference.

The Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship, West Indies’ only success in this cycle came in January when they drew a series 1-1 against Australia.

Since then, the team has struggled, including a 2-0 series loss in England and a draw against South Africa in Port of Spain.

Despite a rain-affected start to their preparations, Coley is optimistic. “After the initial disruptions, we had some good sessions in Antigua. The players are fit and mentally prepared,” he said.

Coley emphasized the importance of building momentum before the Pakistan series, stating,

“We have just four Tests remaining in this World Test Championship cycle. Winning at home against Bangladesh is crucial before heading to Pakistan.”

West Indies icon inspires Falcons, TKR players: “They are the future,” says the Sir Vivian Richards

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Members of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and the Trinbago Knight Riders received words of inspiration from the great Sir Vivian Richards on Wednesday morning.

The former West Indies captain and batting legend spoke to both camps on the eve of their Republic Bank CPL clash — due to be played on Thursday night at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The events were organized by Philip Spooner, the Falcons Director of Media and Phil Simmons, the TKR Head Coach.

“I’m a part of the Falcons family, so I came here to see my team and show my support for the boys as they head into the last home game. I’m really impressed with the talent I’m seeing and just wanted let them know that Sir Viv is still backing them despite the tough start,” Sir Viv said.

“I spent some time with the boys at TKR as well. It’s also about helping to develop all West Indies talent meet them and talk with them. I want what’s best for West Indies and these youngsters I met with today are very talented. They are the future.”

WI vs SA, 3rd T20, Probable Playing XI: West indies will hope to register their third straight win

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Teams West Indies (WI) and South Africa (SA) continue their ongoing T20I series by facing off in the third T20I. Both sides will lock horns at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, on Wednesday, August 28. It is worth noting that the West Indies have already won the T20I series, winning the first two matches, and they will hope to register their third straight win as well.

On the other hand, South Africa, which has not won a single game, will hope for a consolation win. The team will aim to focus on what went wrong and make improvements in the third game.

WI vs SA Date and Venue

The West Indies vs South Africa 3rd T20I takes place on August 27 (Tuesday). The venue of the match is Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.

The match begins at 12:30 AM IST in India on the next day i.e. August 28.

WI vs SA Match Preview- 3rd T20I, South Africa Tour of West Indies 2024

WI vs SA Probable Playing XIs

West Indies:

Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Obed McCoy.

South Africa:

Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka.

WI vs SA Key Battles

Tristan Stubbs vs Matthew Forde

Tristan Stubbs has been a superb performer for the side in the WI vs SA T20I series. Matthew Forde needs to outplay him with his bowling.

Nicholas Pooran vs Lizaad Williams

Nicholas Pooran has done a marvelous job with the bat and Lizaad Williams can crush him in the next game with his pace attack.

Reeza Hendricks vs Akeal Hosein

Reeza Hendricks is a powerful opener for South Africa and Akeal Hosein has impressed with his bowling show. Hence, the fight will be amazing to watch out for.

“First session tomorrow is obviously crucial” – Jason Holder confident of West Indies revival in the face of Proteas advantage

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Jason Holder remains confident that the West Indies can overcome South Africa’s 239-run lead from the second day of the second Test in Guyana.

Holder, who hit an unbeaten 54 from 88 deliveries, watched on as the Proteas built a commanding advantage and were left 223-5 in their second innings.

Opener Aiden Markram (51) and Kyle Verreynne (50) starred for South Africa, with no repeat of the opening day carnage that saw 17 wickets fall for either side.

The Proteas were bowled out for 160 in their first innings, with Holder’s half-century steadying the ship after the Windies had wobbled to just 97-7 in the 28th over.

With a 16-run advantage heading into the second innings, Markram and Tony de Zorzi put together a 79-run opening partnership before the latter was caught for 39.

The dismissal of Markram saw the visitors lose three wickets for 19 runs, but Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder (34 not out) were able to put together an 84-run sixth-wicket stand.

South Africa will resume with Verreynne and Mulder on day three, but Holder remains positive that his side can produce a comeback.

“I was just trying to eke out as many runs as we could,” said Holder at the end of the day. “First session tomorrow is obviously crucial for us.

“The most important thing is not to let the runs get too far away, let them sweat a little bit more for their runs, and I believe, with the amount of time left in the game, that we can chase anything they give us.”

Match Report – Campbelle, Taylor, Matthews give West Indies 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka

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The West Indian top three of Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle ensured a triumphant end to a challenging tour of Sri Lanka, as they anchored a six-wicket win in the third and final T20I in Hambantota to complete a come-from-behind 2-1 series win.

Campbelle remained unbeaten at the end on a 30-ball 41 as West Indies chased down a target of 142 with just one ball to spare. The margin of victory however belies the control the visitors exuded in the chase.

Taylor and Mathews put on a 60-run opening stand in just 48 deliveries, after which Matthews paired up with Campbelle for a 44-ball 51-run stand. When Matthews fell, trapped leg before attempting to swipe one from Kawya Kavindi across the line, the West Indies were on 111 for 2.

With the requirement at roughly run-a-ball, Campbelle navigated the remainder of the chase expertly. The late wickets of Chedean Nation and Aaliyah Alleyne in the 18th and 19th overs conjured some late drama – both dismissed trying to hit out – but some smart running in the final over when just six runs were required ensured there were no further blips.

Earlier, having put Sri Lanka in to bat, West Indies got off to the ideal start dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne off just the second ball of the innings, the aggressive 18-year-old top-edging an attempted pull of Chinelle Henry.

Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama however responded well to the early setback with a partnership of 55 off 54, before Samarawickrama chipped one back to Afy Fletcher.

This was followed by a 25-ball stand of 34 between Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari, but then Athapaththu would also fall, caught excellently in the deep by Shamilia Connell – making up for her drop of the same batter a short while earlier.

Athapaththu’s wicket in the 14th over and Dilhari’s (26 off 22) in the 16th – caught brilliantly by a leaping Henry at mid-off – fell at inopportune moments for the hosts, just as they might have been looking to accelerate.

Some late blows from Ama Kanchana and Nilakshi de Silva pushed the total to 141, but Player of the Series Matthews and co eventually made light work of what could have been a tricky chase.

“we were under pressure” – Rovman Powell admits West Indies need improvement despite narrow win over Papua New Guinea

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West Indies captain Rovman Powell acknowledged that his team has areas to improve following a less than convincing victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) in their 2024 ICC T20 World Cup opener on Sunday.

The match, held at Providence Stadium, saw the West Indies narrowly reach their target, scoring 137-5 with six balls to spare after restricting PNG to 136-8.

The win was largely due to a mature 42 from 27 deliveries by Player of the Match Roston Chase, along with notable contributions of 33 from Brandon King and 27 from Nicholas Pooran.

Powell was candid about his team’s performance, giving credit to PNG for their strong showing.

“Credit has to be given to PNG. I think their plans were simple and they played good cricket. I think PNG’s score of 136 for 8 was a little, 10 or 15, too much. And as a bowling group, that’s something we need to work on. They played smartly,” he said.

He also praised Chase for his all-round contribution.

“That was very good. Started from a bowling effort, I think he bowled pretty well. And coming at the end, when we were under pressure, coming there with composure, and to come out with a winning innings was great for us. I think we can be better in all three departments,” Powell noted.

Chase, who was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 42, expressed satisfaction with his performance and the team’s victory.

“I’m very pleased. To start the tournament with a win is always good. I had to take it home for the team, and I did it,” he said.

Reflecting on his strategy during the match, Chase said, “I knew from our first innings bowling, it was always hard for batsmen coming in to start. I gave myself time, backed myself. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work so I just backed my preparation.”

Chase also acknowledged the efforts of Papua New Guinea.

“They’re not an A-list team, but we don’t want to take any team lightly in the World Cup. We came out with the mentality that we were playing Australia or India. We started slowly but we had a chat at the halfway stage and the guys just wanted to rally and put the best foot forward.”

The West Indies will look to address the issues highlighted by their captain as they prepare for their next match.

Powell’s candid reflection on the team’s performance indicates a commitment to improvement, with hopes of delivering a stronger showing in the upcoming games.

Despite the less than flawless victory, starting the tournament with a win provides a solid foundation for the West Indies.

With key players like Chase demonstrating resilience and maturity, the team aims to build on this performance and strive for excellence as they progress through the World Cup.

LPL 2024 Auction: 3 West Indies players Picked up for the Lanka Premier League 2024 along with Kyle Mayers

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The players’ auction for the Lanka Premier League 2024 concluded successfully at a hotel in Colombo where rising Sri Lanka cricketer Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the most expensive player in the history of the competition.

Only Matheesha Pathirana (US$ 120,000) elicited any sort of high level bidding war at the Lanka Premier League player auction held in Colombo today (21).

The other two highly priced signings – Isuru Udana (US$ 100,000) and Karim Janat (US$ 80,000) – seemed to suggest sides placing a premium on squad composition.

A total of 420 players, comprising both Sri Lankan and international talent, were available for bidding during the eagerly anticipated LPL 2024 Auction in Colombo. Of these players, 154 were Sri Lankan, while the rest were international cricketers. The Lanka Premier League 2024 will be hosted across three venues from July 1 to 21.

LPL 2024: Full List of Retained Players for Season 5 Colombo Strikers: Chamika Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sadeera Samarwickrama, Nipun Dhananjaya, Shadab Khan (Overseas), Glenn Philips (Overseas).

Dambulla Thunders: Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thusara, Dushan Hemantha, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mustafizur Rahman (Overseas), Ibrahim Zadran (Overseas)

Galle Marvels: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim Seifert (Overseas), Alex Hales (Overseas) Jaffna Kings: Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Azmatullah Omarzai (Overseas), Noor Ahmad (Overseas) B-Love Kandy: Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamindu Mendis, Andre Fletcher (Overseas), Kyle Mayers (Overseas).

LPL 2024 Full Squads After Auction

B-Love Kandy: Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamindu Mendis, Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Mohammed Hasnain, Chamath Gomez, Pawan Rathnayake, Chaturanga de Silva, Kavindu Pathirathne, Lakshan Sandakan, Sammu Ashan, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammed Ali, Kasun Rajitha

Colombo Strikers: Chamika Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nipun Dhananjaya, Shadab Khan, Glenn Phillips, Chamika Gunasekara, Dunith Wellalage, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Taskin Ahmed, Angelo Perera, Shevon Daniel, Garuka Sanketh, Matheesha Pathirana, Shehan Fernando, Kavin Bandara, Isitha Wijesundara, Muhammed Waseem, Allah Ghazanfar

Galle Marvels: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim Seifert, Alex Hales, Janith Liyanage, Dwaine Pretorius, Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Sean Williams, Zahoor Khan, Malsha Tharupathi, Isuru Udana, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sadeesha Rajapaksa, Mohommed Shiraz, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Jeffrey Vandersay, Yuri Koththigoda

Dambulla Thunders: Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Dushan Hemantha, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mustafizur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Lahiru Udara, Akila Dananjaya, Danushka Gunathilaka, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Ranesh Silva, Sohan de Livera, Hazmatullah Zazai, Karim Janat, Asela Gunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Rusanda Gamage, Mithun Jayawickrama, Ayana Siriwardhana, Sonal Dinusha, Haider Ali, Santhush Gunathilaka

Jaffna Kings: Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Rilee Roussow, Fabian Allen, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pramod Madushan, Jason Behrendorff, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishad Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Wanuja Sahan, Eshan Malinga, Alex Ross, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Murvin Abinash, Arul Pragasam, Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Theesan Vithushan, Nisala Tharaka

‘Cricket is a business’ – says England’s new T20 coach Kieron Pollard

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Kieron Pollard, a T20 World Cup winner with West Indies and captain as recently as 2022, now wearing an England training jersey instead.

Pollard himself would not agree. “Cricket is a business,” he explains. “You have a job to do and you just try to do it to the best of your ability.”

Such thinking underpinned Pollard’s extraordinary – and ongoing, though he has retired from the Indian Premier League and international cricket – T20 career.

Pollard has played more T20 games than anyone in history: 660, including 101 for West Indies. He has hit the second most sixes and scored the third most runs. He has won five IPL titles, the T20 World Cup and an absurd 18 titles all told.

Almost as importantly, Pollard was one of the first major cricketers to reject a national central contract. In 2010, he recognized that his talent could command more as a freelance T20 player. The T20 world is one that Pollard helped to shape.

So is the game being played. In this season’s Indian Premier League, teams are scoring faster than ever before. Batsmen continue to recalibrate what is considered possible, especially in the closing stages of an innings.

Here, Pollard stands as one of T20’s seminal figures. Fifteen years ago, aged 22, Pollard played an innings that changed both his life, and the format. With Trinidad & Tobago needing 51 from 24 balls against New South Wales in the Champions League in Hyderabad, Pollard smote 47 from his next 11 deliveries.

Trinidad waltzed to victory; Pollard soon won his first IPL contract, worth $750,000. He had created the template for the finisher, with the power that he generates from his 6ft 5in frame.

While Pollard bowls canny medium pace and was one of the pioneers of boundary-catching, his career was built upon his thunderous hitting. In T20, he faces an average of only 13 balls a match; what he does with them makes him one of T20’s greatest ever players.

Jos Buttler was among the first to be influenced by Pollard. In 2010, Pollard joined Somerset as overseas player; Buttler was 19 and playing his first season of the T20 Blast. During Pollard’s two seasons at Somerset, the pair forged spectacular alliances: in the 2010 semi-final, they added 75 in 6.1 overs; in the 2011 quarter-final, 66 in 4.2 overs.

While Pollard’s contracted involvement is exclusively for the T20 World Cup – IPL commitments depending, he could join the squad for the Pakistan series from May 22 – he hopes to work with England again.

“If it goes well, that will be a feather in the cap. Hopefully, they’ll see the need for someone of my experience to be with the England team.

“My job, as I’ve always done playing cricket, is to focus on what I need to do in the present. Whatever happens in the future, good or bad, you take it on the chin. You enjoy it and you continue moving on.”

Come June 28, Pollard hopes that his journey will take him to Kensington Oval for the T20 World Cup final: the second of his career, to go with the one he won with West Indies in 2012. He remains a “supporter” of West Indies, and passionate about the game in the region.

Yet, asked whether his ideal final would be England against West Indies, Pollard laughs. Then, the businessman in him speaks. “The dream final would be England vs anybody.”

While Pollard’s contracted involvement is exclusively for the T20 World Cup – IPL commitments depending, he could join the squad for the Pakistan series from May 22 – he hopes to work with England again. “If it goes well, that will be a feather in the cap. Hopefully, they’ll see the need for someone of my experience to be with the England team.”

“My job, as I’ve always done playing cricket, is to focus on what I need to do in the present. Whatever happens in the future, good or bad, you take it on the chin. You enjoy it and you continue moving on.”

Come June 28, Pollard hopes that his journey will take him to Kensington Oval for the T20 World Cup final: the second of his career, to go with the one he won with West Indies in 2012. He remains a “supporter” of West Indies, and passionate about the game in the region.

Yet, asked whether his ideal final would be England against West Indies, Pollard laughs. Then, the businessman in him speaks. “The dream final would be England vs anybody.”