| 
Posts and words
Loading ...
brian-lara
Lara’s Test record in danger
By Mark Tilley last year, at the end of February, 3 Comments »
A word on Younus Khan. The Pakistani captain stands on the verge of history going into the final day of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In an incredibly high scoring game, Younus has contributed 306 runs to his side’s current score of 574-5 and needs another 95 to beat Brian Lara’s record score of 400 not out. The insanely flat pitch has helped but it’s a special effort to score that volume of runs and, record or not, Younus deserves as much acclaim as possible.
The statisticians will be having a field day whatever happens tomorrow in Karachi. Can Younus do it?
3 Comments »Pietersen as a Test captain, anyone?
By Jonathan Liew 2 years ago, at the start of July, 9 Comments »
There’s always a tendency to make your best player captain, but of late it’s one England have found it quite easy to resist. Captains need guile, nous, subtlety and tact. Mike Brearley had those things. Conversely, I reckon there’s about a 10% chance Kevin Pietersen hasn’t even heard of Mike Brearley.
For the moment, though, KP appears to the man in possession, which allows a tantalising glimpse into an imagined, post-Vaughan future. The present skipper clearly wants to make it as far as the next Ashes series, although so did Graham Thorpe, you might remember. In fact, any one of a number of circumstances could derail Vaughan before next summer – poor form with the bat, a thumping at the hands of South Africa, a disastrous winter tour, that blasted knee, an invitation to take part in Strictly Come Dancing – you know, anything.
And so, a number of names would be in the frame. Collingwood, if he’s still in the team; Cook, probably; Flintoff as a romantic outside bet; Strauss, heaven forbid. Pietersen, though, will definitely be a front-runner. If his stint as one-day captain goes well or he has a sensational run of form, his hand will be strengthened still further.
What would Pietersen be like as a captain? More importantly, perhaps, what would Pietersen the captain be like as a batsman? This is how the captaincy has affected the batting averages of some modern-day captains:
Ricky Ponting: 62.00 as captain; 55.97 not as captain
Brian Lara: 57.83 as captain; 50.12 not as captain
Rahul Dravid: 44.51 as captain; 57.66 not as captain
Michael Vaughan: 37.71 as captain; 50.98 not as captain
Interesting, isn’t it? The best two captains – Dravid and Vaughan – are the two whose form actually dips when given the top job.
When you consider the circumstances, it begins to make a little sense. Imagine that Vaughan or Dravid comes out to bat at 10 for 1 in reply to a score of about about 500. Neither man is exactly going to come out with all guns blazing. As captain, that would be irresponsible. Vaughan and Dravid feel a great and justifiable sense of responsibility towards their team which sometimes inhibits them from playing their natural game.
If Ponting or Lara came in in the same situation (Lara’s retired, I know) they would feel less constrained by the match situation. The reason? Ponting knows that if he’s out cheaply, chances are one of the batsman coming after him will save the day. Lara knows, or knew, that even if he scored 150, the West Indies would still very possibly lose. Neither Ponting nor Lara are as central to their team’s batting line-up as Vaughan or Dravid are, and they can thus play with a far greater degree of freedom.
That’s not to say that players whose figures improve when they become captain are simply selfish and single-minded; merely that the more freedom you have to play your natural game, the less it matters whether you’re a good captain or not. Ponting could be a terrible captain and Australia would still win most of the time. Lara could be a brilliant one and the West Indies would still lose. It’s the likes of Vaughan and Dravid, in the middle ground, who have to rein themselves in for the good of the team.
The qualities that make players good captains, then, actually render them less effective as a batsman. If KP ever becomes England captain, it looks like someone else is going to have to get the runs.
9 Comments »Virender Sehwag goes a little bit bonkers
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of March, 29 Comments »
I suppose I should salvage what few Indian fans I have left by at least mentioning Sehwag’s blistering knock today. Truth is, I only caught brief glimpses of it – just as much fun can be had getting your head around the legalese of the ICL and county players – but it was the speed of his innings which most stood out. He only has two gears: quite fast and very fast. And his footwork – or lack of – was fascinating to watch. He barely moved them an inch, at least to those few scorching drives I witnessed, which tells us two things: he has a ridiculously good eye and fast hands, and the pitch is a screamer.
There was one particularly deft back-cut (you can never have enough late cuts, I say) which sped past the lone slip for four – a model of timing, placement and bravado. His feet didn’t move, he just wafted the bat and it flew away for four. When you’re on a roll…
Still, I was slightly alarmed by all the praise. “Sehwag is an all-time Indian great,” commentators gushed. Steady on. He’s unstoppable on his day, and if South Africa keep feeding him boundary balls he’ll give Brian Lara’s record a run for its money. But he’s no Lara.
Is he?
29 Comments »Cruel game for those on debut
By Ian 3 years ago, at the end of June, 13 Comments »
AFP
How bad must Malinda Warnapura be feeling? To get a Test golden duck is bad enough, but a golden duck on deboo, as Richie would say, against Bangladesh on a featherbed when your partner gets a ton must be crushing. He’s unlikely to bat again in this match and may not get another innings if Upul Tharanga returns from injury.
The only other deboo goldie I can remember was Alan Wells in 1995, caught Sherwin Campbell, bowled Curtly Ambrose. Again, most other batsmen did well on that track, including two hundreds (Lara and Hooper) and six others who made it to 80 and didn’t convert (four were out in the nervous 90s). Wells did at least make an unbeaten 3 in the second innings, but that was his lot.
I’m sure there were others?
13 Comments »Do it, Shiv
By Ian 3 years ago, mid-June, 8 Comments »
© Getty ImagesModern Test batsmen talk long and hard about ‘playing for the lads’, belittling their own efforts as part of a team collective, which is all very commendable and, of course, a load of old baloney. The best batsmen are selfish and will, more often than not, bat for themselves, which is fair enough. And while they wouldn’t ever wish misfortune on their team-mates, the very best Test innings usually demand that most of the ‘lads’ get out cheaply, while our hero achieves team glory almost single-handedly.
With this in mind, I was trying to think this morning of the best innings in recent memory, where the successful batsman must have stood at the crease during his knock in the second innings thinking, “if I’m out, that’s itâ€. Laxman and Dravid against the Aussies at Eden Park in 2001 was a great example of one more wicket and it’s over; as was Athers’ 185 at Jo’burg in 1996; or even Mahela Jayawardene’s hundred at Lords’ last year. The problem with being an Aussie batsman is that there is usually at least one other who makes runs too, but Ponting’s rear-guard 156 at Old Trafford in 2005 stands out. I am sure there are many others, not least by Adam Gilchrist, although did they ever avert certain defeat?
My favourite for sheer excitement was Lara’s unbeaten 153 to beat the Aussies at Bridgetown in 1999. If Shiv Chanderpaul goes on to score 160 to win today, will that be even better? Agreed, Harmison and Plunkett are not McGrath, Gillespie and Warne. And there won’t be the same swash-buckling bravado. Besides, he hasn’t done it yet! But could anyone begrudge the West Indies this moment?
8 Comments »England v West Indies, Super Eights, Barbados
By Will 3 years ago, mid-April, 77 Comments »
It’s a day of last hurrahs. England’s final match; West Indies last game; Duncan Fletcher’s and Brian Lara’s last in international cricket and, apart from those departing, it’s an utterly meaningless encounter. Due to Fletcher’s retirement, England are apparently now up for the match (which is nice). All we want is a Lara hundred though, don’t we?
Leave your wibblings below and keep an eye on the scorecard.
77 Comments »Brian Lara retires from international cricket
By Will 3 years ago, mid-April, 31 Comments »
Tis the season of resignations but I’m slightly surprised that he’s not staying on for the Tests this summer. I suppose there’s only so much one man can burden; his shoulders must be aching after a decade digging West Indies out of a mess (often digging in vain). What a complete and utter privilege it’s been, though, watching his career. Yes, it’s been bitter-sweet as an England fan in particular – the 375 will live with me forever; the 400 less so. But few sporting figures in a spectator’s lifetime directly influence their enjoyment of the game. They are rare, and Lara was unique; West Indies were a one-man team with depressing regularity.
Has any player been so burdened by the weight of expectation? Richard Hadlee was one, Sachin Tendulkar another (but he has had a number of other players, not least Rahul Dravid, bat around him). Mike Atherton in the nineties. But Lara, despite his flaws (notably with captaincy), remained near the top right to the end. There were breathless highs and inexplicable lows. He often got out to a Gower-like flash yet he was capable not only of breaking world records but his own world records. Steve Waugh (or was it Mark Taylor?) maintained that the only way to keep the runs from flowing was not to sledge him. Lara loved a fight, a good old-fashioned playground scrap. Deny him a battle, verbal or otherwise, and he was half the man. A bloody legend, that’s what he was.
I did a gallery of his career about a year ago which is in the process of being tweaked, but have a look anyway if you like. Your favourite, most memorable Lara moments please…
31 Comments »Live chat: West Indies v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados
By Mike 3 years ago, mid-April, 2 Comments »
It seems like Bangladesh have had a good World Cup after bashing a couple giants, but find themselves languishing at the footer of the Super Eights table. The West Indies have been highly disappointing in the second stanza having breezed through their pool grouping but they’re also stuck low on two points. As Dileep Premachandran over at CricInfo writes:
It will have escaped no one’s attention that West Indies are currently level on points with Bangladesh and Ireland, an unacceptable state of affairs in a region that dominated the game for nearly two decades.
It’s statement time. Brian Lara is in the final breath of his cricketing career and one might hope that the embattled West Indies could dig a couple specials out to end in a way he might deserve. Bangladesh can foil that and go a long way to secure themselves a final six finish. That would be a grand achievement for the nation.
Check the scorecard and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
2 Comments »Cartoon of Brian Lara
By Will 3 years ago, mid-April, No Comments; be the first!
A cartoon of Brian Lara following the West Indies’ dismal display against South Africa
Thanks Ryan
No Comments »Life of Brian
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 1 Comment »
“He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!” so said Brian’s mother in Life of Brian.
Brian Lara isn’t the Messiah either, and I doubt his mum thinks he’s anything other than God’s gift to batting – and so do we. Commentators wet themselves at the very sight of him walking to the crease, adding his middle-name for added gravitas. “Brian Charles Lara has another hundred”. It always annoyed me hearing people get so sickly about one man’s genius, but it’s hard to deny them their enjoyment any longer. Another monstrous pile of runs today and he’s unbeaten on 196.
Who’s to say by tomorrow afternoon he won’t be approaching 400? Again.
1 Comment »Mahela Jayawardene gives South Africa a hiding
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of July, 4 Comments »
He’s approaching Brian Lara’s record score of 400. After losing Sangakkara for 287, to bring to an end the all-wicket record partnership of 624, Jayawardene has kicked on, to now be 373 not out of Sri Lanka’s 4 for 754. There is still two full days to go for Sri Lanka to go so do not expect a generous declaration anytime soon!
Ashwell Prince’s debut Test as South Africa captain is proving to be memorable in more ways then he would like.
Update – Top-shelf mozz from the Corridor, as Jayawardene is bowled for 374. Only Lara (twice) and Hayden have scored more.
4 Comments »West Indies v India, 4th Test, 3rd day
By Will 4 years ago, at the start of July, No Comments; be the first!
Fascinating Test match at Kingston. West Indies wrapped things up pretty quickly to dismiss India for 171. That left Windies 269 but they’ve already lost four – including Brian Lara and Shiv Chanderpaul.
All is not lost, as Ramnaresh Sarwan – the guts of the side, as far as I’m concerned; the real bare-knuckled streetfighter – is still there on 43, and they need another 164 to win. One thing’s certain: it won’t be a draw.
Money’s on India, but COME ON Windies! Live scorecard.
Update: bugger. Sarwan gone for 51.
No Comments »The limiting factor for West Indies
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of June, No Comments; be the first!
When the captain of your country (countries) turns up to lead you in a Test match, you have every right to feel confident in his ability. Confident that the selectors chose a born leader of men; someone with whom to go into battle. As captain, you also might expect to have a degree of confidence in the men you have chosen. WRONG. If you’re a West Indian captain, you have no say in such matters – pah! The very thought! – which, as Brian Lara is finding out, is a bit of a problem. Yes, the pitch can often be a lottery…but in “home Tests,” generally speaking, the home side holds the aces. They have a whole nation of cricketers to choose from. Not West Indies! Ohh no.
“My only concern is the combination for the final Test,” he said while analysing his team’s performance. “We played an extra batsman here but if you want to get 20 wickets, we need to put players there to get us those wickets. It’s left upto the selectors, let’s see what happens … Guys who’ve been here have done a tremendous job throughout this series, performing on surfaces that really haven’t helped them. Two days rest between Tests and to go back to the reserves and pick fast bowlers would be showing a weakness. Very confident with the likes of Corey Collymore, [Pedro] Collins, [Jerome] Taylor – coming into his own – and Bradshaw has been good. Maybe an addition would be a good choice and we will have the final decision a day before the match.”
The selectors must be loving it, rolling on the floor watching Collins, Taylor and co. all struggle to take the wickets. “If only they had another bowler, eh? Moohhahahahaha” they chortle from the hideaway selectors’ mansion, hidden inside a cave under the sea.
No Comments »Lara’s 501
By Will 4 years ago, at the start of June, 8 Comments »
Thanks to Ryan for pointing this out. 12 years ago today, Brian Lara struck that incredible 501 for Warwickshire against Durham. I was at school at the time, a mere 12-year-old, and I remember my Dad picking me up at about 6pm.
Back in those days, the mobile phone was a distant dream. Only rich yuppies (remember them? Ah, the 1980s…) could afford the breeze-block Nokias, and even then they had no one else to phone. So I clearly remember my old man shouting down the drive, as I was making my way up it, “Lara’s gone mad Will! 500!” Obviously I thought he’d finally lost the plot, and peered into the back windows of the car for the Men In White. But they weren’t there. After completely refusing to believe him for the entire 10-minute car journey, the radio came on to confirm my worst and best fears.
I didn’t know what to think. After his 375, which incidentally was made on the tour which first sparked my interest in the game, it was plain as day that he was an extraordinary cricketer. But the 501? It took the biscuit – and I couldn’t help thinking “Well it’s Durham for God’s sake. Durham.” And back then, Durham really were very Durham, not the chirpy, confident side of 12 years hence.
Where were you when he did it?
8 Comments »West Indies v India, 4th ODI, Trinidad
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of May, 2 Comments »
The 4th one-dayer between West Indies and India at Trinidad. Posted in advance. Open thread – chat away…
UPDATE: And they’ve done it!
2 Comments » « Previous Entries