History-maker Brian Lara has penned down his incredible cricketing journey in his new book – Lara: The England Chronicles. The book was released on July 2 and published by Fairfield Book. Brian Lara, one of the greatest batters, had a special connection with England throughout his illustrious career.
In the book, Brian Lara talked about several phases of his life, from the tough times to breaking records to winning trophies. Lara shared the thought process whenever he entered the middle and what motivated him to score runs.
Brian Lara’s incredible cricket career
Brian Lara, one of the greatest batters, had a special connection with England throughout his illustrious career. The left-handed batter, who was known for his flamboyant batting and imperious stroke-making, scripted history in Birmingham with a 501-run knock in a county cricket match while playing for Warwickshire. Brian Lara still remains the only batter to score 500 in first-class cricket.
The Windies great Brian Lara also registered the highest score in Test cricket – 400 against England in 2004 at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua. His final international game – an ODI also came up against England in 2007. He finished his incredible Test career with 11953 runs in 131 Tests at a staggering average of 52.88.
After retiring from international cricket in 2007, Lara tried his hand in commentary and also coached an IPL team – Sunrisers Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Lara: The England Chronicles is the Windies legend’s first fully co-authored book. Brian Lara spoke about the book he recently launched and also expressed the following 2 Indian batters to break his long pending red ball cricket records.
Legendary batter Brian Lara earmarks 2 Indian batters to break 2 of his red-ball batting records
Ex-West Indian batting legend Brian Lara reckons his red-ball records will be overhauled sometime in the near future. The Trinidadian believes the aggressive nature of today’s batters makes it possible to do so and has earmarked Shubman Gill and Yashaswi Jaiswal as ones who could do so.
The former player has held two batting records in the red-ball format for over two decades. The left-hander scored an unbeaten 400 against England in 2004, which remains the highest individual score in Tests. Lara went on to register an unbeaten 501 during a first-class fixture in 1994, making it the highest tally in the format.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Lara believes Gary Sobers’ 365 should have been surpassed by the likes of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.
“I was always sort of puzzled that Sir Garfield Sobers’ record wasn’t broken in the 1970s and 80s, when you had the aggression of Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards.
“There were players in my time who challenged, or at least went past the 300 mark – Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya.”
Nevertheless, the left-hander reckons the current era has many such players capable of doing it.
“They were pretty much aggressive players. How many aggressive players do you have playing today
“Especially in the England team. Zak Crawley and Harry Brook. Maybe in the Indian team? Yashaswi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill. If they find the right situation, the records could be broken – both of them.”
The most recent player to score a Test triple-hundred is David Warner, doing so against Pakistan in 2019 at the Adelaide Oval. He had the opportunity to surpass Lara, but Tim Paine declared the innings when Warner was on 335.
“The bowling attack is young but quietly very, very dangerous” – Brian Lara on West Indies
With the West Indies set to lock horns against England in a three-Test series, Lara reckons the Caribbeans must win the first day of the Test to avoid chasing the game:
“England have a totally different approach. They’re looking to be 100 runs plus in the first session. The bowling attack is young but quietly very, very dangerous with guys like Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph.
“But if West Indies is going to be successful against England, they’ve got to win the first day of the Test match, whether it be with bat or ball. Lose it, and it’s very difficult to come back against a team that plays in that kind of attacking nature.”
The first Test begins on Wednesday, July 10, at Lord’s, which will also mark the legendary James Anderson’s last for England. England is at the bottom of the nine-team World Test Championship (WTC) table, having secured only three wins out of ten matches. The West Indies, on the other hand, are in sixth place with one win in four matches, holding a Points Percentage (PCT) of 33.33.