Current LARA - GREAT but not GREAT ENOUGH ;-). Review on Brian Lara

PLAYER PROFILE

Full name Brian Charles Lara

Born May 2, 1969, Cantaro, Santa Cruz, Trinidad

Lara has played 117 test matches and averages 54.09 with a world record highest score of 400 n.o! He is close to 11000 runs in test cricket.

He has played 256 ODI and averages 41.94 with a highest of 169. He is close to 10000 runs in the shorter version of the game.

Test debut Pakistan v West Indies at Lahore - Dec 6-11, 1990 scorecard

ODI debut Pakistan v West Indies at Karachi - Nov 9, 1990 scorecard

The only batsmen other than Sir Bradman to score big runs so often is Brian Lara. He came into prominence after scoring 501 and 375 at the first class and international level in an innings each. The later breaking the then world record of Sir Garfield Sobers. Lara emerged as the super star of the future West Indies team. He started his carrer at a time when the West Indies Cricket team was on a descend. Likes of Desmond Haynes, Gordon Grinidge, Richie Richardson in the batting line up were on the verge of retirement. People like Courney Walsh, Ambrose were also aging. By the time Lara proved his mettle at batting and was thrusted with the job of captaincy in the year 1996, all the major greats of WI cricket were out. He was involved in the process of building the next-gen team of WI.

During an inventive but largely fruitless spell as captain of a fading team, Lara reiterated his genius by single-handedly defying the 1998-99 Australian tourists with a sequence of 213, 8, 153 not out and 100. After this stint, he went back to scoring in spurts. But, Lara returned to his best in Sri Lanka in 2001-02, with 221 and 130 in one Test and 688 runs - a record 42% of West Indies' output - in the series, and reclaimed the captaincy the following year.

This stint at captaincy was a SEA_SAW ride. His team was defeated for the second time comprehensively at SA for the second time in 5 years. WI also lost the home series against a strong England side. The only saving grace against England was the record making 400 n.o in the last test match at Antigua. The knock came too late in the series as England had already wiped the series 4-0. The last test also ended in a draw. After this in the back to back series against England, this time in England, WI lost all the 3 test matches and hence the series 3-0.

WIth a highly in-experienced brigade Lara went into the ICC Champions trophy and emerged as winners. This should be the highest point in his carrer. Lifting the world championship must have been a great feeling for this WI super star. This many thought would mark a Lara lead WI resurgence.

But the thoughts faded away as WI proved that it was just a one day wonder by losing to SA in a home series recently. They even struggled to win the series against Bangladesh. Currently the series against Pakistan, should be another to watch out. but the Captaincy throne has already started to shift sides towards Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Is this marking the end of Brian Lara's captaincy? A question to be answered.

Brian Charles Lara has had a personally great carrer. In his early days of international cricket, most of his majestic innings would help his team win. In fact he had the highest percentage of wins when he scored a half century. The percentage was close to a 80%. Which meant he had a real big say in the team. As his carrer proceeded, with the retirement of more senior players, his innings were big and great, but not great enough to inspire a team win.

Therefore it is correct to say that Lara has been a great batsmen right through his carrer so far. But his early innings helped his team win. But these days his match winning innings are far-lesser. Hence he is no BRADMANESQUE-PERFORMER anymore.