Brian Charles Lara is a former West Indian international cricketer. Often recognized as one of the greatest batsmen of his era and one of the best in the history of the game, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. In addition to soaring to the top of the Test batting rankings several times, he holds several cricketing records, including the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with 501 not out against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, the only quintuple hundred in first-class cricket history.
Aside from common spectators, Lara's style is also appealing to professional cricket players. It was Lara's bread and butter to break records and score humongous amounts.
| Born: 2 May 1969 | Nationality: Trinidadian and Tobagonian |
| Years Active: ( 1990–2007) | Birth Place: Santa Cruz, Trinidad, and Tobago |
| Height:5 ft 8 in | Role: Batsman |
| Batting Style: Right-Handed Bat | Bowling Style: Right-arm leg break |
| Nickname:Princey, The Prince of Port of Spain, Michael Jordan of Cricket |
Lara has dated former Durham County Cricket Club receptionist and British lingerie model Lynnsey Ward. Lara was accompanied by Ward during the West Indies tour of Australia in late 2000.
Lara is the father of two daughters, one named Sydney (born 1996), who he had with Trinidadian journalist and model Leasel Rovedas. Sydney was named in honor of Lara's favorite cricket ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, where he scored his first Test century, the highly acclaimed 277 in 1992-93. His second daughter Tyla was also with Leasel Rovedas who was born in 2010.
He lost his father to a heart attack in 1989 and his mother to cancer in 2002.
There were 11 children in Brian's family. The Harvard Coaching Clinic enrolled him as a young boy for weekly Sunday coaching sessions at the age of six when his father Bunty and older sister Agnes Cyrus enrolled him there. Lara was therefore exposed to correct batting techniques at a very early age. As a child, Lara attended the Roman Catholic elementary school St. Joseph's. His next schooling was at San Juan secondary school on Moreau Road in Lower Santa Cruz. In the following year, at 14 years of age, he joined Fatima College, where he began to develop as a promising young player under Mr. Harry Ramdass.
Lara represented West Indies in Under-19 cricket. Lara made his test debut against Pakistan on 6 Dec 1994, scoring 44 and 6. He faced the legends Imran Khan and Wasim Akram on this day. It was also a day when Pakistani speedsters were impressed by the batting of Brian Lara. Months earlier, he had also scored a century against Pakistan in his ODI debut.
It was in Sydney in January 1993 that Lara displayed his class by scoring 277 points against Australia. A century by him turned the tide of the series, with the West Indies winning 2-1.
In his career, Brian has set several records for three-digit runs. In test cricket, Lara is the only player to register 400 wickets. As of today, he has nine double test centuries, which ranks third behind Donald Bradman's 12 and Kumar Sangakkara's 11.
It is common for players to experience highs and lows throughout their careers, and the West Indies legend was no different. He was overweight and suffering from hamstring issues after playing regularly for a number of years. As a result, he had to take a break to recover from that issue. Therefore, he took 4 months off to rest and recover.
His career had another low point in March 2005 when Lara declined selection for the West Indian side due to a sponsorship dispute, but later returned and scored 196. Consequently, he lost his captaincy to Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Lara was named captain of the West Indies team in 1998. A player revolt over delayed pay led to his dismissal the following year, but he rebuilt his reputation by captaining the team again against Australia the following year.
During the series, he scored three hundred in three consecutive matches and was named Man of the Series. It ended in a draw of 2–2.
In 2000, Brian decided to take a four-month break from cricket to resign as captain of the Indies side. In 2003, he was reappointed captain. In September 2004, his captaincy helped the West Indies win the ICC Champions Trophy.
Among Brian Lara's many achievements, here are some that stand out
Brian Lara announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on 19 April 2007; the West Indies vs England match played on 21 April 2007 was his last international match.
Lara built massive scores with such elegance and speed, unmatched since Bradman's heyday. His stance was thrilling as well - the bat raised high in the air, his weight poised on a bent knee in front, and his eyes low and level.
| ODI | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 299 | Run Scored: 10405 |
| Batting Average: 40.17 | Top Score: 169 |
| 200/100/50: 0/19/63 | Wickets: 4 |
| T20 | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 115 | Run Scored: 4008 |
| Batting Average: 52.74 | Top Score: 122 |
| 200/100/50: 0/1/37 | Wickets: 4 |
| Test | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 132 | Run Scored: 11953 |
| Batting Average: 52.89 | Top Score: 400 |
| 200/100/50: 9/34/48 | Wickets: 0 |
Sachin Tendulkar of India fields during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Group B match between India and the Netherlands at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on March 9, 2011 in Delhi, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India raises his bat on scoring his century during the Group B ICC World Cup Cricket match between India and South Africa at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on March 12, 2011 in Nagpur, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India hits out watched by wicketkeeper Matt Prior of England during day five of the 4th npower Test Match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 22, 2011 in London, England.
Sachin Tendulkar reach the iconic landmark of 100 international centuries against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in 2012
Sachin's first Test century
Sachin Tendulkar’s dream to hold the World Cup in his hands and in 2011 it finally happened.
