Brian Lara – a West Indian from the island of Trinidad who was one of the world’s best batsmen in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He played during an era when some of the best fast bowlers in the world were in their prime. Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Darren Gough and Brett Lee to name just a few.
Meanwhile the likes Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan bamboozled batsmen with their unpredictable, and at times unplayable spin.
Early in his career, he was scoring runs like they were going out of fashion. In 1994 he had probably his best season with the bat, breaking the Test and first class highest individual score, making 375 runs in a Test match against England scoring 501 not out off 427 balls for Warwickshire in a county match against Durham at Edgebaston.
During the early 2000s, when the West Indies began to make their slow and painful decline from the international game, Lara was still making big scores.
Lara played his last match for the West Indies at the 2007 Cricket World Cup against England, only making 18 runs in a match the West Indies lost as England snuck home by one wicket with only a ball to spare.
However, while we hotly debate whether Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting was the best batsman of the 1990s and 2000s, Lara is never seriously considered.
Brian Lara’s batting average compared to Tendulkar and Ponting:
Tendulkar – 200 Tests, batting average of 53.78
Ponting – 168 Tests, batting average of 51.85
Lara – 131 Tests, batting average of 52.88
Some would say Tendulkar and Ponting were better because they played for longer than Lara did, and yes his average might have fallen if he played on. But despite this, he is certainly in the same league.
Recently Lara scored 56 runs off 36 balls, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes at Lord’s for the MCC. Despite the opposition only being Hertfordshire, it still shows that years out of the game he still has the talent that terrorised teams all over the world.
So next time you hear the ‘who was better, Ponting or Tendulkar’ debate, just remember the West Indian master from the island of Trinidad, Brian Lara.
Follow Lachlan on Twitter at @Lachy7Doyle
Bobbo7
Guest
Fair point.
ak
Roar Guru
Lara has always been given his due. Instead its time we give Shivnarine Chanderpaul the acknowledgement he deserves.
Syed
Guest
I am not sure why someone could even think that Lara don't get the credit for the player he was. He does. There was no need for this article, as most acknowledge him as the best batsmen of his time.
JGK
Roar Guru
Weird premise to this article - many (me included) would consider Lara than Tendulkar, Ponting and Kallis. No doubt some Indian fan somewhere will bring out stats of performances against extreme fast bowling; or averages over the best decade of a career etc in order to show that Tendulkar was better.
spruce moose
Guest
Nice article, bad headline. Lara already gets an enormous level of respect, even in the notoriously one eyed Australian and Indian markets.
Satwik
Guest
Don't understand what the writer is trying to say..Whenever we speak of the Best batsman we always talk about Brian and Sachin, Ponting is no where in the picture and yes Lara is the best batsman the game has seen in the last 25 years. Maybe the writer is too obsessed with Ponting.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lara was awesome. He had an ability to make the best bowlers in the world look ordinary. It doesnt matter what the records say, he was the best of his time, miles ahead of anyone else.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I have always rated Lara as the best in his era. He carried his team and scored runs, big runs which was something Tendulkar could never do.
craig
Guest
Yeh one of the all time greats of the sport love him dearly along with Border Ponting v Richards s Waugh and Tendulkar He has been a champions champion
Aransan
Guest
This was the best innings I ever saw: http://youtu.be/Lo0hB4AqEp8
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I was going to mention Chanderpaul. In the years of the Windies' lowest ebb he has been the one shining light. In 155 tests he has 11, 374 runs with 29 centuries and 63 fifties. He deserves to be counted alongside the modern greats. Completely agree with the article too of course.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Far better to watch than either Punter or Tendulkar.
Kevin Dustby
Roar Rookie
i don know anyone that under rates Lara. widely revered by all
Johnno
Guest
The master blaster Viv still the best batter last 40 years then Greg Chappell, then maybe Gavaskar. Lara the best out of Ponting,Tendulkar.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Considering the shoddy teams he had to carry for much of his career, Lara has to be close to the best modern great. Sachin had a lot of help in those great Indian batting lineups of the past 10-15 years. As did Ponting and Kallis. Lara had no consistently good batting teammates for a lot of his career. Now Chanders has had to the same for the past 5 years
Bobbo7
Guest
Agree, he was right up there with Ponting, Tendulker and Kallis, so statistically is in the same class