The Australian bowler dismissed the West Indian star more than any other batsman, claiming Lara’s wicket 15 times in 24 matches. McGrath also had good success in seeing off the Indian legend 13 times, one less than fellow Australian Brett Lee.
“I may have got him out 15 times, but he also scored big hundreds and double hundreds against us when both me and Warnie (Shane Warne) were playing together for Australia,” McGrath told the Times of India.
“When it was his day, he could do absolutely anything. Sachin was equally as good, but there was something about Brian where he could just keep going and he was slightly harder to bowl to than Sachin. He was more fearless,” he added.
Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test after scoring 400 not out in 2004 against England. The batsman could also be particularly brutal against Australia. Lara struck 277 runs against Australia in Sydney, his maiden Test century and the fourth-highest maiden Test century by any batsman.
The swashbuckling 31-year-old was in fine form for the Windies during their recent tour of Sri Lanka, picking up man-of-the-series honours in a 2-0 win over the home team. In fact, with a T20 strike rate of 171.29, the signature of Russell has become one of the most coveted on contracts all over the globe. His development has impressed the Trinidadian all-rounder, who knows a thing or two about high-quality performances himself.
“It’s the same thing I used to say about Chris Gayle, we are happy to have someone like Gayle representing us, we don’t have to come up and bowl against him in an international match. I think it’s the same with Andre Russell. Andre Russell now is our Chris Gayle, is our Brian Lara in the T20 format. He is a superstar, he’s the best player and we are happy,” Bravo told local Trinidad-based radio station I955 FM.
“He’s the best in the world and we’re happy to have him in our team.”
Russell has claimed a number of titles with various franchises, including five in eight months in 2016. He was named in the team of the tournament at the T20 World Cup that same year.
West Indies batting legend Brian Lara had many battles with Warne on the pitch during their careers. He was rendered speechless by the news.
“Heartbroken and speechless at the moment. I literally don’t know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!!!,” Lara said on Instagram.
“We have lost one of the greatest sportsmen of all time!! My condolences go out to his family. RIP Warnie!! You will be missed,” he added.
Lara played against Australia in 31 test matches from 1992-2005 and made 2856 runs at an average of 51.00 with nine centuries and 11 fifties.
Another all-time great, Sachin Tendulkar, also reacted with shock to news of Warne’s death on Instagram.
“Shocked, stunned and miserable…Will miss you, Warnie. There was never a dull moment with you around, on or off the field. Will always treasure our on-field duels and off-field banter. You always had a special place for India and Indians had a special place for you. Gone too young!”
Tendulkar also had a long history of battles with Warne, playing against Australia in 39 tests from 1991-2013, amassing 3630 runs at an average of 55.00 with 11 centuries and 16 fifties.
West Indian great Sir Viv Richards never played against Warne but was a part of the Melbourne Stars Australian Big Bash League franchise at one point with him.
“Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can’t be true. There are no words to describe how I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket,” Richards said on Twitter.
Legendary English all-rounder Ian Botham mourned the loss of the Australian spinner.
“I’ve lost a great friend on and off the playing field. RIP Warnster,” he said on Twitter.
Warne leaves behind an untouchable legacy in the sport, finishing his career in 2007 with 708 wickets in 145 Tests and 293 wickets in 194 ODIs.
During that span, Lara scored 11,953 runs in 131 Tests at an average of 52.88 including 34 hundreds and 48 fifties, the biggest of those hundreds coming at the Antigua Recreation Ground against England in 2004 when he scored a world record 400*.
His ODI numbers were equally impressive as he scored 10,405 runs in 299 matches at an average of 40.48 with 19 hundreds and 63 fifties.
Now, Lara hopes to give back to West Indies cricket as a member of the support staff of the senior Men’s team.
Before the team’s ongoing Test series against South Africa, Lara joined the coaching staff as a performance mentor.
Lara described the feeling of wearing the West Indies colors again in an interview with Cricket West Indies on Thursday.
“These are the colors that made me who I am today. It’s a different set of emotions. I remember several years back when I was a youngster living out my dream spending 17 years plying my trade in these very colors,” he said.
“Now, it’s a bit different being a member of staff, looking at present day players and trying to implement a style of play and a philosophy of the game that was successful in the past. I feel that, in time, we will see the benefits of this,” he added.
The former West Indies captain also described what his role will be with the team moving forward.
“I think it’s pretty simple. We have to improve our performances and not just sporadically, we have got to do it on a consistent level and I’m not going to pretty it up. That is what I’m here to do as a performance mentor; to get the players to play better cricket more consistently and to get the West Indies back competitive with the best cricket playing countries in the world,” Lara said.
Notably, Lara recently celebrated the 19th anniversary of the day he scored the historic knock (400*) against England in Antigua in 2004.
Speaking on the franchise’s YouTube channel, Steyn stated that Lara, head coach of SRH, got nostalgic about his record innings.
He further revealed the chain of events on how Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene was on the verge of breaking the historic record in a match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2006.
"I literally just looked at him (Brian Lara) and said, 'You're welcome. You still have your record due to South Africa’. Mahela (Jayawardene) and (Kumar) Sangakkara are batting together, Sangakkara is on strike. We never sniffed a wicket in that entire time,” Steyn said.
“At Tea on day three, we'd been fielding for two and a half days in the sun. Ashwell (Prince, who was captain on the tour) and the South Africans all get together and our team talk was not about how we're gonna draw or win this game. Mahela was on 370 somewhere and we just said, 'We need to do anything possible to make sure he didn't break Brian Lara’s record,” he added.
As the Sri Lankan closed in on the record, South Africa somehow managed to dismiss him just 26 runs short.
"We come out of tea. Andre Nel is the bowler. And I’ve been fielding at mid-off for most of this game. I’d seen everything happen in this game at mid-off. I think he had run every milestone to me. I think he just blocked the ball and ran to me at this point,” shared Steyn.
“Nel ran in, he dragged one short, it was halfway down the pitch. I basically looked at the square leg because the bulk of the time that was where the ball was going. And for some crazy weird reason this ball didn’t get higher than ankle height and it castled Mahela’s stumps and we got him out for 374", he concluded.
While Lara’s 400* is still intact, Jayawardene’s 374 remains the fourth-highest individual score in Test history.
Meanwhile, Lara, who has scores of 400* and 375, features in the top-four list twice, whereas Matthew Hayden's 380-run knock against Zimbabwe in 2003 is the second-highest individual score in Test history.
The 74-year-old official stood in 128 Test matches and 181 One Day Internationals (ODI) in a career that spanned 20 years. While admitting an affinity for the destructive power of Viv Richards, the Jamaican-born umpire admits there was something otherworldly about Lara.
“Viv Richards, the Master Blaster, I rate him very highly on my list because he destroyed every type of bowling…then there is Brian Lara who I think is the best thing the eyes can behold when he is on the go. He was poetry in motion. He did things that others couldn’t do,” Bucknor told the Mason and Guest Radio program.
"Once he was on the go then Lara is the batsman that I enjoyed umpiring. In other words, I didn’t want to be a spectator when Lara is batting, I wanted to be in the middle to enjoy the cricket there. As someone who has played the game you must enjoy the game out there,” he added.
“Umpires enjoy the game. In your heart, you cheer. You clap in your heart to see a good shot. You clap in your heart to see a good delivery. You enjoy that but you cannot show it on your face, in your eyes or anywhere.”
Lara’s new role will be to support the various head coaches in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense, as well as working closely with the director of cricket on ICC World Cup Tournament strategic planning.
“I am really looking forward to Brian making a significant contribution to our cricket system by providing invaluable guidance and advice to our players and coaches,” said CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams. “We are confident that Brian will help to improve our high-performance mindset and strategic culture that will bring us more success on the field across all formats. Everyone is excited to have Brian involved in supporting our players.”
Meanwhile, Lara believes he can make a difference in his new role as performance mentor.
“Having spent time with the players and coaches in Australia and in discussions with CWI, I really believe that I can help the players with their mental approach to the game and with their tactics to be more successful,” he said.
“I'm looking forward to joining the group in Zimbabwe and the opportunity to work with other West Indies teams later in the year."
Lara’s first assignment will be with the West Indies Test squad. He has joined the Test squad in Zimbabwe where he will assist in the team’s preparations ahead of the first Test Match in Bulawayo on 4 February 2023.
Directed by award-nominated director Sam Lockyer, the film titled ‘501 Not Out’, focuses on Lara’s record-breaking innings for Warwickshire in 1994.
“I am truly honoured that 501 Not Out will be opening the TT Film Festival this year,” Lockyer said in a statement. “I have fulfilled a long-held dream in making the film and I hope that it is a fitting tribute to the genius of Brian Lara, my childhood hero and the greatest cricketer to ever live.”
The film will feature interviews with iconic names from the world of cricket, including some of his former international and county teammates from the historic treble-winning season, his friends and coaches in TT and the Caribbean, fans who witnessed the marathon knock first-hand and those inspired by his heroics.
The Lara documentary runs for one hour and 48 minutes.
The TTFF will run from Wednesday until September 15
USHA International Limited is a company that provides Asain household products like sewing machines, dry irons, fans, coolers, water dispensers and kitchen appliances.
Lara announced the partnership on his Instagram page on Tuesday.
“I am honoured to be the brand ambassador for India’s legendary and iconic consumer deliverables company, USHA International,” he said.
"It’s no secret how much I endorse living an active, healthy lifestyle. That’s why I wanted to be associated with a company that not only does the same, but one that is also passionate about giving back and touching lives,” he said.
Lara, arguably one of the greatest batsmen of all time, has a massive global following was the best batsman in the world for much of his career that began in 1990 and culminated in 2007. During that time, playing for the West Indies, Lara scored 11,953 Test runs at an average of 52.88. The man dubbed The Prince of Port of Spain, in his native Trinidad and Tobago, still holds the world record for highest Test innings, 400 not out, made against England in 2004.
Lara was part of the SRH team management last season as a strategic advisor and batting consultant, and this will be his first assignment as a head coach of a T20 team.
As SRH Head Coach, Lara will be working alongside a star-studded support staff with South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn playing the role of bowling coach, while Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is the franchise's spin-bowling and strategic coach.
He’ll have a difficult task on his hands in his new role as head coach as the past two years have been the worst in franchise's history. The Sunrisers finished at the bottom of the table in the previous edition, winning only 3 of their 14 matches.
On April 12, 2004, Lara not only reclaimed the record Test innings, he set a mark that remains standing today.
The West Indies great frustrated England's attack across two and a half days in Antigua, the Test eventually finishing as a draw to ensure the hosts avoided a 4-0 whitewash.
The 1,696th Test of all time belonged to Lara. Here, we take a look back at his 400 not out in numbers.
16.66 average - Lara's fourth Test score was all the more incredible given he had made just a combined 100 runs at an average of 16.66 across the previous three matches in the series.
12 hours, 58 minutes - Lara batted for 12 hours and 58 minutes to get his record. That is only the seventh longest Test innings of all time, though, with Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad having occupied the crease for over 16 hours against West Indies in 1958.
582 deliveries - England used seven bowlers in that West Indies innings and Lara faced 582 balls without getting out. However, that does not even make the top 10 longest vigils in terms of balls faced, with Len Hutton leading the way when he faced 847 balls in 1938.
43 fours, four sixes - Of Lara's unbeaten 400, 196 runs were made via boundaries (43 fours and four sixes). He scored more fours (45) when making 375 against England a decade earlier, though he failed to clear the ropes in that match.
68.72 strike rate -Across 232 Test innings, Lara had a strike rate of 60.51 so he was actually marginally more aggressive than normal during his knock against England.
Unbroken 282-run stand for the sixth wicket -Lara shared two partnerships worth over 200 runs during his innings. He made 232 alongside Ramnaresh Sarwan (90) for the third wicket then made 159 of the 282 he and Ridley Jacobs (107 not out) accumulated before the Windies declared on 751-5.
185 days -Just six months after Australia opener Matthew Hayden broke Lara's previous Test record with 380 against Zimbabwe, the previous holder took back the honour.
5,844 days - Lara's record has now stood for 5,844 days. Since his innings, Mahela Jayawardene (374 in 2006) and David Warner (335 not out in 2019) are the two men who have come closest to eclipsing it.
The 42-year-old batsman has faced heavy scrutiny in recent weeks and has managed just a total of 25 runs in two heavy losses for the Windies at the tournament so far. The storm of criticism surrounding the batsman, however, extends beyond that.
Heading into the tournament, Gayle had struggled to look like anything close to the player who has scored over 14,000 runs in T20 cricket. In the last 16 matches, the batsman has averaged 15.93 and scored 239 runs with a strike rate of 13.80, well below his career average of 138.46.
Despite that, however, Lara, considered one of the game’s greatest ever batsmen, believes the player could still have a role to play in the team and should remain a part of the line-up at this point in time.
"Chris Gayle is already in the World Cup and his experience and the fact that he can pass on something to the younger players is key,” Lara said recently on Star Sports.
"I personally believe that Chris Gayle has to be given a proper send-off. This, I think, is his last tournament. Dismissing Chris Gayle at this stage of the tournament, I am not sure it's the right thing. I would like to see some sort of nice approach for the rest of the tournament. I think he can still make an impression on the younger players even if he doesn't score," he added.
The game is being put on by former West indies fast bowler Daren Powell, who is the founder of RESI Legends and will also be playing in the game.
The day’s festivities will kick off at 9:00 am with a match between the St. Elizabeth All Stars and the Manchester All Stars before Lara’s XI and Gayle’s XI square off in the marquee event.
Gayle and Lara will be joined by the likes of Jerome Taylor, Krishmar Santokie, Wavell Hinds, Robert Haynes, Nehemiah Perry, Nikita Miller and Delroy Morgan.
Powell, speaking SportsMax.TV, said that the participation of international players like Sulieman Benn, Daren Ganga, Dave Mohammed, Dwayne Smith, Kirk Edwards, Devendra Bishoo and Narsingh Deonarine was not yet confirmed as he is still seeking sponsorship from airlines to fly them to Jamaica for the event.
Powell, who represented the West Indies in 37 Tests, 55 ODIs and five T20Is from 2002-2009, wants the match to “reignite cricket in the parish of St. Elizabeth,” before emphasizing that the focus of the event is cricket, not charity.
“It’s a cricket event, a legends cricket event that we are putting on. Normally in my life whatever I do, from when I was playing for the West Indies, I contribute to my past school and assist people who need it. In this situation, I’m playing cricket to bring back life to me and life to St. Elizabeth and, in so doing, if there is support from the public and corporate Jamaica, if there so be a case that I can contribute to any entity, I will. My main focus is about cricket.”
He also spoke extensively about the presence of Brian Lara, calling it an opportunity for the development of the parish in more areas than just cricket.
“I thought I was putting on a Cricket match but ever since Brian Lara’s name has been mentioned in it, I have seen whereas it is more than just cricket. It’s about sports tourism also. It’s a good thing for the hoteliers and workers in the parish. It is something that can bear fruit and every entity in Jamaica can benefit from; tourism, sports and locals.”
“Once this game can go off successfully, hopefully we’ll have another one a year from now.”
The event, set to be held at the Westin Hotel, is being held to celebrate the 75th birthday of former West Indies batsman Lawrence “Yagga” Rowe.
It will also be used to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rowe’s 302 against England in Barbados.
“Big shout out to Sir Lawrence “Yagga” Rowe. Triple, triple, triple!” Gayle said in a video on Thursday.
“The Universe Boss will be there. See you guys Saturday. You know it’s a worthy cause so please, grab a ticket and support the cause. I’ll see you guys soon,” he added.
Other West Indian legends including the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara are also expected to be at Saturday’s event.
Lawrence Rowe played 30 Tests for the West Indies from 1972-1980 and scored 2047 runs at an average of 43.55 with seven hundreds and seven fifties.
The all-rounder was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the new campaign, after only coming in as a substitute for Australian Mitchell Marsh last season.
Holder went on to score 66 runs, in seven matches, at an average of 33, and claimed 14 wickets, the third most on the team despite playing less than half the games. Lara, who is part of a commentary panel for this season’s tournament, has tipped the player to carry on in the same vein.
“Jason Holder could do pretty well. He ended up replacing Mitchell Marsh in the 2020 IPL, so I expect him to maybe come up with trumps this year,” Lara told StarSports.
“The tracks are not so favourable to the pace where he is playing at present, but he is such a good all-round player that I hope he can maintain his play and really show that the West Indians are here to stay,” he added.
Holder could, however, have plenty of competition for the top West Indian player with the likes of Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, and Nicholas Pooran also taking part in this season’s competition.
Despite managing to dismiss Lara on a few occasions, Afridi, a fearsome hitter of the ball himself, admits that he was never confident while running up to bowl to the often-brutal left-hander.
“That would have to be Brian Lara. I got him out a few times but whenever I was bowling to him, I always had the feeling in the back of my mind that he is going to hit me for four the next ball. He had an effect on me. I never bowled with any confidence to him,” Afridi said in a recent interview with Wisden.
Lara scored some 11,953 Test runs and 10405 ODI runs in a star-studded career, which included setting the highest individual score recorded in a Test match with 400. Lara scored his highest total against Pakistan with a double century, at Multan, in 2006.
“He was a world-class batsman who dominated the best spinners he came up against, even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka. His footwork against spinners was brilliant, and the way he batted against such bowlers was a wonderful sight. He was sheer class.”
According to ESPNCricinfo, April 24 was selected as the date to unveil the gates to mark Tendulkar's 50th birthday as well as the 30th anniversary of Lara's 277 at the SCG, his first Test century, though that Test was played in January 1993.
"The Sydney Cricket Ground has been my favourite ground away from India," Tendulkar said in a statement released by Cricket Australia.
"I have had some great memories at the SCG right from my first tour of Australia in 1991-92. It is a great honour to have the gates used by all visiting cricketers to access the field of play at the SCG named after me and my good friend Brian," he added.
"I'm deeply honoured to be recognised at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as I'm sure Sachin is,” Lara said.
“The ground holds many special memories for me and my family and I always enjoy visiting whenever I'm in Australia," Lara added.
That innings of 277 remained Lara's highest at the SCG. He totalled 384 runs at the ground in four Tests overall while Tendulkar had an average of 157 at the SCG, scoring 785 runs in five Tests over the years with three centuries, including a memorable 241 not out in January 2004.
The statement also outlines that the gates will be used by visiting players to access the field.
On hand to unveil the gates were SCG and Venues NSW Chairman Rod McGeoch AO, and CEO Kerrie Mather, as well as Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
"Sachin Tendulkar's record at the SCG is simply remarkable, while Brian Lara's maiden Test century remains one of the most celebrated innings by a visiting player," Mather said.
"Both players continue to hold a deep affection for the SCG and they remain hugely popular whenever they visit Sydney."
"As the cricketing world celebrates Sachin Tendulkar's 50th birthday, this is a fitting and timely gesture by the SCG to recognise Sachin and Brian Lara as two legends of the international game with exceptional records at the SCG,” said Hockley.
"Their feats will no doubt be an inspiration to not only visiting international teams, but all players fortunate enough to walk onto the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground, for generations to come."
At the ages of 40 and 36, the players are in the twilight of their careers and currently on the fringes of the West Indies squad looking to prepare for the upcoming tournament. Lara is, however, convinced that a successful IPL campaign could put the players back in the mind of the selectors. The tournament, the former batting star insists, will not only test their current form but also their longevity by providing a grueling schedule. The near one-month tournament could see teams play as many as 17 matches, with a minimum of 14 during the short period.
“I think the IPL is going to be a huge point or signal for who is actually going to carry on. It’s still going to be five months after the IPL for the World Cup,”
Lara said in a recent interview with bdcrictime.
“Fitness levels are very important, but a gruesome tournament like the IPL is going to tell the West Indies selectors who are the players that they really need going into the last four months of preparation for the World Cup,” he added.
The 52-year-old Trinidadian has been named the strategic advisor and batting coach for Sunrisers that have also hired South Africa’s Dale Steyn as their pace bowling coach.
“Humbled by @sunriserhyd faith in me. This appointment as strategic advisor and batting coach gives me the opportunity to do a job I have always yearned to do, and that’s to pass on what I know about our wonderful game of cricket to its future stars,” Lara said on Instagram.
“I look forward to the challenge with the same energy and zeal as my playing days.
Tom Moody will now be the head coach, replacing Trevor Bayliss.
Lara and company will have their hands full in attempting to turn the franchise’s fortunes around.
Last season under Bayliss, Sunrisers Hyderbad won just three of their 14 matches in the group stage of the competition and hence failed to make the playoffs.
The franchise had made it to the IPL playoffs in each of the five previous seasons.
During his playing career, Lara was considered one of the best batsmen of all time. In 131 Tests for the West Indies, he scored 11953 runs at an average of 52.88. Among his 34 Test centuries, he has scores of 375 and 400 not out, the latter being the world record for the highest individual score in Test innings.
