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.
One of the greatest batsmen ever, and now, one of our own 🧡
Happy Birthday, @BrianLara 🎂#OrangeArmy #ReadyToRise #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/w4aQ61SAwN
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 2, 2022
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.
On the great man’s 53rd birthday, enjoy 60 seconds of Brian Lara cover drives 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/Ftead6gCTh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 2, 2022
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.
I hope and pray that one day west indies cricket team will have other all-time greats like Brian Lara