Warwickshire Part With Brian Lara (21 Nov 1995)

Electronic Telegraph Tuesday 21 November 1995

Warwicks part with Brian Lara

By Charles Randall

BRIAN LARA was yesterday released by Warwickshire from his three-year contract, leaving the way open for another possible dose of Lara-mania on the championship circuit.

The gifted West Indies left-hander, who plans to rest next season, becomes available in 1997, an Australian tour summer, and his next contract in England will have to cover at least two years to comply with regulations on overseas players.

Lara`s availability should tempt interest from the bigger counties with money and ambition after his extraordinary impact at Edgbaston last year.

Huge media attention and nine hundreds at a run-a-ball, including that 501, came relatively cheap for Warwickshire when they signed Lara as a stop-gap, with the `treble` to follow, but the price is bound to be high for bidders next time.

Warwickshire reluctantly took their decision, tacitly admitting that further juggling with the futures of Allan Donald, their South African fast-bowler, and Lara would be inadvisable after a year-by-year alternating proposal was rejected.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph