LARA_REACTION_07JUN94

500 UP AS LARA GOES RUN CRAZY

Brian Lara recorded the highest ever first class score when reaching 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham. More than a dozen records tumbled as the West Indian crashed Durham's attack all round Edgbaston as he moved ahead of legends W G Grace and Don Bradman. Last week he became the first man to score seven centuries in eight innings just 50 days after setting a Test best of 375 against England in Antigua.

"I HOPE I BREAK RECORD," SAYS LARA

Brian Lara is the undisputed champion of world cricket... but don't say that within a mile of the modest West Indian Just 50 days after setting a Test best of 375 against England in Antigua the Warwicks ace followed up by bettering the all time mark with 501no v Durham.

"Records are there to be broken," he shrugged. I'm just happy to be the one who's doing it and if they are broken I hope I am the one doing it again.

LARA: "I NEED MORE CONSISTENCY"

Brian Lara broke the biggest world record of them all then insisted: I don't think I'm a great cricketer. The amazing 25 year old West Indian scored 501no against Durham seven weeks to the day after his world record Test score of 375 against England in Antigua "It's nice to have records and be on top," he said. "But I still have a lot of cricket ahead of me and I know that I need to be more consistent," he said.

LARA LOSES COUNT IN FINAL OVER

Brian Lara's new world record is there for all to see but the likeable West Indian almost fell short of the mark. With 497 to his credit Lara who was blissfully unaware he was four balls into the final over, cracked the fifth through extra cover for his 62nd four. I didn't realise it was the last over he said. Keith (Piper) told me I just had two balls left and that was a real surprise. It made me very nervous."

HANIF: "IT'S ALL DOWN TO SIZE"

Brian Lara's secret is out. It's all down to his size according to Hanif Mohammad, the man whose world record the West Indian claimed at Edgbaston. "I believe it's all in the height," said Hanif after hearing that his record of 499 had been overtaken by Lara. "He's very short and many others like me. Sir Don Bradman and Sir Len Hutton have all scored a lot of runs," he added

"I KNEW I WAS IN DANGER," HANIF

Previous world record holder Hanif Mohammad knew his mark was in danger when he first set eyes on a young raw West Indian called Brian Lara. "I've been watching him for three years and he is a magnificent cricketer He bats very well with a lot of confidence and I always knew he was capable of reaching my score when he broke the world record in Test cricket."

====> MORE Brian Lara yesterday reached a total of 501 not out for Warwickshire. This beats he previous record of 499 made in 1958 by Hanif Mohammad. Asked if he thought he would make any more half centuries, he replied "I don't think so (with a smile)".

After this acheivement, Hanif Mohammad said "I'm not disappointed the record was broken. It was there to be broken." When asked how he managed to get run out on 499 he said "I thought my score was 496. With just 2 balls to go, I thought if I made 2 runs on each I could get to 500. On the first ball I got run out. Only later did I realise that I actually had scored 499. If I had known I would have waited for the last delivery." He was then asked what made a great batsman. He said, "If you look at all the great batsman, they had one key attribute. They were short." (Thanks Tarkan Tahseen)