Thank You Brian Lara (6 April 1999)
For 101 minutes, for 24 overs, Brian Lara thrilled the gathering at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) on Sunday afternoon with a scintillating display of strokes during which he blasted Australia for 100 glorious runs - the century coming in 96
06-Apr-1999
6 April 1999
Thank You Brian Lara
Tony Becca
For 101 minutes, for 24 overs, Brian Lara thrilled the gathering at
the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) on Sunday afternoon with a
scintillating display of strokes during which he blasted Australia
for 100 glorious runs - the century coming in 96 minutes off 82
deliveries with three massive sixes and 15 sparkling fours.
In an incredible performance after a tentative start, Lara scored his
century out of a total of 116 runs while he was batting - the last 69
coming off only 30 deliveries after tea when he sailed into the
attack and smashed his three sixes and nine of his fours.
Not since Viv Richards sprinted to a century off 56 deliveries
against England in 1986 had Antiguans witnessed anything like that,
and it left them in ecstasy. They went home singing and dancing, and
praising their god - even though the West Indies ended the second day
of the Test match 106 runs behind Australia's 303.
Yesterday, however, as the West Indies lost wicket after wicket to
end up trailing on first innings, as West Indians pondered the
possibility of losing the Test match and sharing the series, Lara's
performance was put under the microscope, and almost in one accord,
the fans labelled it as irresponsible.
With the match being a contest, the fans may be correct: maybe Lara,
as he did at Sabina Park while setting the stage for victory, and as
he did at Kensington Oval while guiding his team to victory, should
have cooled it, paced himself and played for a really big innings.
There is another side to the argument, however.
Apart from the fact that Lara is not the only batsman in the team -
even though he is so much better than the rest and so much depends on
him, there is no guarantee that he would not have been dismissed
earlier had he played differently.
On top of that, there are times when attack is the best form of
defence and with Glenn McGrath bowling brilliantly and having him in
trouble, with right-arm legspinner Stuart MacGill getting the ball to
spin appreciably, he decided to back his skills, to go for them, and
was so successful that he kept going.
Instead of criticising Lara, the fans should look at the other
batsmen who, after Lara had beaten the bowlers to their knees, had
left them begging for mercy and had set the stage for his colleagues
to preen themselves, they, but for Carl Hooper, pushed, and plodded,
and dropped like flies - so much so that one wondered if they were
playing on the same pitch on which Lara was so at ease, and against
the same bowlers who were plundered by Lara.
There is no question that he is one of the greatest batsmen in the
world, one of the finest strokeplayers, and the most devastating on
the go. He expressed himself and dominated the bowlers representing
the best team in the world and for 96 minutes, he entertained the
fans who enjoyed themselves.
It would be a pity if the West Indies lose the match after all that,
but for those who love sport, those who love to see the best at their
best, those who love to see great players rising to a challenge,
those who love cricket and those who enjoy the art of batsmanship,
Lara's brilliance on Sunday was a treat.
Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)