Yesterday’s West Indies vs England match brought to an end the playing career of a truly great player. Brian Charles Lara has called it a day. Significantly, it was his 299 th ODI and unlike what most Indian players would do, he did not hang around to complete 300 ODIs.
He has achieved enough and more. 11953 runs in 131 Tests at an average of 52.88. This includes 34 centuries with a highest of 400 not out against England. This remains the highest individual score in a Test bettering the 375 he himself scored against England earlier.
Add to this, 10405 runs from 299 ODIs at an average of 40.88 with 19 centuries and a strike rate of 79.51.
He also hold the record for the highest individual score in first class cricket for his 501 not out for Warwickshire vs. Durham in 1994.
In his farewell interview, he asked the audience whether he had entertained them. The answer was a resounding ‘Yes”. He went on to say that he would prefer to be remembered as one who entertained whenever he played.
His policy” Leave when you are at the top”. As Ian Chappell said quoting Keith Miller, leave when people ask “Why are you leaving”? not when people ask “Why don’t you leave”?
Adieu, Brian Lara. Thanks for the great pleasure your batting gave viewers around the world for over 17 years.
Filed under: Sports
а все таки: прелестно!!