Lara never worried about world record

West Indies master batsman Brian Lara took world batting to new heights yesterday when he scored an amazing 400 not out against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in the Fourth and final Test of the 2004 Cable and Wireless Test series. His monumental feat took the West Indies to a massive 751/5 declared just after lunch on the third morning. Yesterday, local cricket officials heaped praises on him and hailed him as the greatest batsman the world has ever seen.

Lara broke Sir Gary Sobers world record score of 365 not out in 1994 against England when he took his tally to 375. Six months ago, Australian Matthew Hayden broke his record and took the mark to 380. Lara reclaimed the record with his magnificent 400 not out yesterday. Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team, Omar Khan, remembers the night Hayden broke Lara’s record. “We were in Jamaica for the Red Stripe Bowl series and someone called Brian early in the morning and told him that Hayden was approaching his record. He then followed the match on the internet  and as soon as Hayden got the record, Lara telephoned me. He said he wanted to get Hayden’s number to call him and personally congratulate him on achieving the feat. He said records were meant to be broken and he was not too perturbed about it.

“We got the number from the Australian Cricket Board and Lara was able to speak to Hayden minutes after he broke the record.” “Lara never really set out to take back the record, all he was concentrating on was getting West Indies cricket back on track. I would like to personally congratulate him and I think now the man has shown that he is the greatest thing to ever hold a bat.” First vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) Dudnath Ramkessoon said that without doubt Lara is the greatest batsman in the world. “Lara has announced to the world that he is the greatest batsman and a genius at play. He played a magnificent innings that showed his character and I think we are very lucky to be alive to witness Lara’s batting. This man is truly unbelievable and he is exactly what West Indies cricket needs at the moment. This innings will silenced his critics and now he can go on with the business of leading the West Indies team.”

TTCBC administrative manager Rambhai Patel said “Lara has made Trinidad and Tobago proud with this performance and has re-affirmed his position as the best batsman in the world. This boy is really great and I think there are really no more words to describe this man.” Patrick Rampersad, an executive member of the TTCBC, was elated and said: “Cricket in the Caribbean has received a shot in the arm with Lara’s performance. I think that this will lift his struggling team and get them back on the road to recovery. Lara has shown that he can carry this team and his detractors must be a silly lot now.” Lara has reclaimed his Test batting record to go along with his first class performance of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.