Brian Lara retires from international cricket

One thing a statistic will never record is the countless times Lara was on the receiving end of some highly dubious umpiring decisions. He took every one in stride and not once did I ever see him throw his bat, kick, or show any kind of disgust.

He was the gentleman’s gentleman and was the greatest batsman of the modern era until Ricky Ponting took over.

The guy’s a legend of the highest quality. I reckon I’ll go watch that double hundred in Adelaide Footage again. Or maybe that 277 in Sydney.

I can’t pick just one moment of Lara’s. Virtually every innings of his he would do something spectacular, like pull off the impossible shot off a length ball through extra-cover. No bowler was safe, and I’m allways baffled when Tendulkar is placed above him in the Greatest XIs.

Something else the statistics don’t show is not only how he carried the batting single-handedly, but that he did it through most of his career against very good bowling attacks. I have to disagree with Mike on that point- Ponting may have scored more runs than Lara over the last few years, but the attacks Lara had to face generally carried more of a sting than the ones today. So Ponting’s run-fest apart, Lara still remains the greatest batsman of the last 20 years.

I agree with marcus – I can’t understand why Sachin Tendulkar is rated higher as a batsman than Brian Lara. Sure, Sachin might have more runs, centuries, etc. But Lara’s batting was a sheer delight to watch. To be honest, I was not much of a Lara fan, till I saw the century he made against South Africa in the first match of the 2003 World Cup. That knock simply took my breath away! And I was a Lara fan since…

I think VSG Harihar is getting a little carried away – not least because Bradman averaged 99.94 on uncovered wickets. For me, that is too good to comprehend fully!

But there is no doubt that Lara is the most exciting batsman of the modern era. Tendulkar and Ponting may have the stats to match, if not better, Brian’s career but they accumulate runs rather mechanically when compared to Lara’s flair.

I saw the first 160-or-so of his 501*. On his day (which was more often than not) he timed the ball like no-one else. And what a back lift!!!!!

The world cricket cupboard is certainly looking a little bare at the moment. No more Lara, Warne or McGrath (or Inzi in the 1-dayers).

Here’s a question for you – apart from Punter, which other current players can we truly call “great”? I guess Tendulkar is in this category. Also Murali?

I remember at the Oval a few years ago (West Indies tour before last I’d guess) Craig White bowled Lara round his legs second ball. There was the predictable roar of acclamation, followed very soon afterwards by a disappointed “Oh”.

Lara is one of the batsmen you’ll boast to your Grandchildren that your saw bat – and they’ll be jealous – in the same way I was jealous when my grandfather told me he’d seen Bradman bat.

Odds Aus makes 400, anyone?

When Lara came there were cheers
When Lara went there were tears

Brian Charles Lara, theb greatest the cricket has ever produced. I guess no one else could ever give such an entertainment to the crowd with his marvellous back lift and wide range pf beautiful cricketing strokes.
Long livr Brian Lara.
Wish you all the luck and proerous future.

The Greatest Batsman ever. As a small island of a population of 1.3 mill we have somehow been able to produce top sportsmen and women. sprinters, footballers, cricketers even in swimming and golf. Some of whom have been at the top of thier game for a few years, But lara is a True legend one that will never be forgotten and wont outrightly be topped for a long time.

And its a shame that the reason he retires is because of the idiot selectors we have here in the West Indies. They told him that he wouldnt be selected for the series in England. So i guess they will replace him with who? I’m sorry to say but i think Trinidad should split off now and have our own team internationally. I’m sure we wouldnt do much worst than West Indies

They said he sabotaged Richardson, Walsh, Adams, Hooper and Chanderpaul when they were captains, yet they never provided one shread of evidence.

They wanted to accuse him of match fixing because he was known to make friendly wagers so as to motivate himself to score more runs.

The Australians accused him of being selffish for breaking Hayden’s record when Pointing did the same by allowing Hayden to pulverise poor hapless Zimbabwe. This is in spite of the fact Lara had stated before the match that his chief goal was not to be whitewashed. The consesus is that the world record would have mattered more over one hollow insignificant victory anyday.

West Indians,mostly non-Trinidadians e.g Guyanese and some Jamaicans, accused him of being selfish by not allowing Sarwan to go after his record of 400 when Lara had staed before the match that the chief ambition was to win, and that if he could not win against Bangladesh, he may as well give up the captaincy.

Holding has said that he stayed too long. What he really means is that inspite of still being the best batsman, the selectors took too long to get their act together and, force him out of the game.

Some may still say that he is selfish by leaving when W.I cricket is in crisis, just because he could not have his way!

I rest my case.

Here’s another one…

Whenever he took a stand with regards to contract or pay disputes, they have always said that he was a selfish person only interested in financial gain. The case of Sarwan and Gayle proved them wrong though since he was already in the clear as his contact with C&W preceeded the WICB’s contract with Digicel, and had had the blessings of the WICB. He sacrifced his place in the team, and the captaincy for his players. What few seem to realise is that he had nothing personally to gain as his ‘bread’ was already ‘buttered’.

Finally they said that he is selfish person who was preoccupied with his records and his legacy. Yet he retired just 47 short of 12000 test runs and 1 short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 35 test centuries!

I love rock and roll

Its the end of an era. His 17-year old career has been filled with ups and downs, magnificent highs and terrible lows. There have been media reports accusing Lara of being selfish and a bad influence on his team. His attitude has been questioned several times. But its difficult to forget the joy he gave the spectators with his strokeplay and his lightning footwork as he tried to pull the ball off his hip on one leg. What a lovely shot!!! Perfect
West Indian swagger.

http://fractalenlightenment.blogspot.com/2007/04/shine-on-you-crazy-diamond.html

Bhavika

HE IS THE BEST BATSMAN OF ALL TIME.

Bradman, Sachin can be compared to him but never close.

Rickyponting and others a shame to compare.

His feet movement, high back lift, the shots, stance while defending and leaving the balls, dancing on the pitch lofting over sight screen etc……
would always be in memory of cricket lovers but there would never be a BRIAN LARA again in cricket.

I still remember the phrase stated by the renowned commentator Tony Grieg that ” Eighty thousand people are waiting for this man” – and the man was Brian Charles Lara. To watch him bat was every spectators delight. There have been many great batsmen from Bradman to Sobers, Hammond to Tendulkar but can anyone tell me even the modern greats like ponting or even tendulkar can provide the same extravagant pleasure that Brian lara provided every time he went to bat. Even an 2 run lara innings provided more pleasure than watching a century completed by any of the above mentioned greats. Because as the experts say – There is drama in every lara innings. His high back lift, the lightning footwork and the impeccable storkeplay… I can just go on and on….it is something that cant be understood when its written you have to feel it . Its an honour , a great feeling of happiness and joy to see the legend bat. You just cannot be get bored even if he makes 1000 runs in a single innings, youll need more and more of it.

There is no batsmen who can match this trinidadian genius. He is well above all his peers of his generation right up there where no cricketer has ever step. The greatest batsmen ever to hold a cricket bat, the best of all —-Brian Charles Lara

all the surperatives may have been exausted and almost all the ply but perhaps the most important one may be this. he is authentic. take all the money all the fame all the adulation all the tv cameras away and put brian lara in a gym somwhere with bradman and sobers tendulkar and richards and he would be as genuine in every element as any of them, his heart and his athletic integrity every bit as impressive as his artistry. lara you took us on a ride and as i die hard fan of yours i must admit i enjoyed that ride. love you always and forever.