Brian Lara Profile
by CricketArchive
DateLine: 20th February 2007
At a panel discussion involving former greats during the
Champions Trophy in India in November 2006 Brian Lara was voted as the
greatest among his peers the other batsmen in contention being two
other modern giants Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. That was the
ultimate proof, if any was needed, of Lara’s true greatness and his
fitness to be ranked among the outstanding batsmen of all time. Few
batsmen have made the art and science of batting look so easy as this
`prince of left-handers’. With that classical high back-lift Lara
brings back memories of Gary Sobers and he has all the qualities that
the best in the game possess – all the shots in the book, superb
technique, an insatiable appetite for runs, an ideal temperament and
the ability to rise to the occasion when runs are badly needed. The
pressure on Lara is immense being the batting bulwark of a generally
weak side. But time and again he has shrugged off these pressures and
batted with all the grace associated with left-handers. Superb timing
and faultless execution has driven captains, bowlers and fielders to
exasperation and eight double centuries – more than anyone else other
than Don Bradman – testify to his unique hunger for big scores as also
the fact that he is the only one to get 400 in a Test match. He is the
only batsman to regain his world Test record score – and for good
measure he also holds the record for the highest score in first class
cricket. He is also the highest run getter in Tests and as only to be
expected is a formidable opponent in ODIs where he is one of the few to
cross the 10,000-run mark. As a captain he has grown in stature after
an indifferent start and as he approaches the sunset of an illustrious
career he seems determined to go out in style.
