Brian Lara, The greatest counter-attack: Sometimes such feats are seen in world cricket which astonish the world. Former West Indies legend Brian Lara had done something similar.
Lara has been the best batsman of his time. Lara also holds the world record for scoring 400 runs in Tests. Even though Lara is considered an all-time great, in his early days this Caribbean batsman was known for partying. In such a situation, once Lara partied the whole night and then the next day when he came out to bat, this batsman surprised the world by scoring a double century.
Michael Holding called Lara a spoiled child
This incident happened in the year 1998-99, in the Kingston Test match against Australia, Lara had scored 213 runs while batting during the first innings of West Indies. This inning of his is counted among the memorable innings but before playing this inning, Lara had partied the whole night till 4 in the morning. But even after this, when he came to bat, the bowlers failed to get him out.
Actually, before this test match, West Indies had to face a bad defeat in the first test. Captain Lara was criticized a lot. Many cricket legends had considered Lara as a failed captain. Even Michael Holding had criticized him by calling him a spoiled child.
The team bus left the captain
There was pressure on Lara. He was being criticized from all sides. Now the time had come for the second test match. The captain should have been the first to be in the team bus. His teammates were waiting in the team bus but Lara did not reach in time. Then the team bus left him and left for the stadium, but fortunately, Lara reached the stadium at the last moment due to warm-up.
Why did Lara miss the team bus in the morning?
People talked a lot about this. His companions even said about this incident, “He was partying in Kingston nightclub ‘TheAsylum’ till 4 in the morning.”
Told Steve Waugh- This could be my last
At the time of the toss in the second Test, Lara told Steve Waugh, “This may be the last time I do this… Then the Test match starts.” After restricting Australia to 256 runs in the first innings on the first day, the West Indies were out at 37 for 4. Lara was not out on 7 runs.
Lara scored a double century, this innings was considered a great innings.
What happened on the second day of the test match was pure magic.. Lara was touched by a magic wand overnight.. Lara dominated the whole day against the bowling led by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, completed his first century in 27 innings and managed to score his third double century. On the second day- batted the whole day with Lara (212*) and Adams (88*) and took the partnership to 321 runs. Lara’s innings was historic. After this, when Lara was out for 213 runs on the third day, about 8000 spectators were present at the Kingston ground…they had seen Lara’s historic innings with their own eyes. This innings saved the match for West Indies. West Indies scored 431 runs, Adams scored 94 runs. After this the pressure was on the Australian team.
was one of the great test innings
Under pressure, the Australian team collapsed for 177 runs in the second innings. West Indies then scored three runs in their second innings and won the match by 10 wickets. Mike Coward wrote in his Wisden report, “Lara captivated the people of a bankrupt nation, revived his career as a batsman of rare talent and rekindled cricket throughout the Caribbean…It was by universal consent one of the great Test innings.” What happened after this, Lara never looked back.