‘Captain Fantastic’ rewrites history

ST JOHN’S: Brian Lara rewrote cricket  history again with a majestic 400 not out to lead West Indian domination over England in the Fourth Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John’s. The Trinidadian became the first batsman to score 400 in Test cricket half an hour after lunch, reclaiming the record for the game’s highest score almost 10 years to the day he first set it, also against England at the same venue. Australia’s Matthew Hayden broke Lara’s 375 last October against Zimbabwe in Perth. In his 106th Test, captain Lara spent almost 13 hours and 582 deliveries for his quadruple century, then immediately declared the first innings. The Trinidadian lashed 43 fours and four sixes. 

He and the great Don Bradman are the only batsmen to score more than 300 twice in Tests, and Lara resumed on Monday at 313 at 595 for five with the stated goal of making 400. Ridley Jacobs, who helped Lara add a West Indies record unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 282, compiled his third Test century of 107 not out almost unnoticed. The West Indies total was the highest scored against England, surpassing Australia’s 729 for six declared at Lord’s in 1930.  Lara tied Hayden’s record 20 minutes before lunch when he stepped down the pitch to hit off-spinner Gareth Batty for his fourth six. He swept the next ball, his 546th, for his 42nd four to retake the record.

A packed crowd of more than 12,000, over half of them England supporters, rose to acclaim Lara, who removed his helmet, jumped, and punched the air in celebration. Lara was also congratulated by England, and Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who led a small delegation onto the field to shake Lara’s hand. Before resuming the strike, Lara paused to kiss the pitch. “When I scored it (375 in 1994) before, I did not know what to expect,” Lara said. “Coming back six or seven months later to do it all over again, I feel great but to say I knew I would have done it again, no. It’s a great feeling but it’s dampened a bit by the series result,” Lara said. “I’m looking forward to us pulling something back in this Test.”

England have already secured the series. Jacobs reached his third Test century just before lunch to the delight of his home fans. He smashed three sixes and eight fours off 207 balls in just over five hours. He had a lucky escape when he was bowled for 87 by England captain Michael Vaughan but umpire Darrell Hair’s no-ball call reprieved him. The West Indies bowlers followed their captain’s lead with an impressive performance over the final two sessions to limit England to 98 for five at one point.

Vaughan was unlucky to be given out caught behind for 7 off Pedro Collins at 8-1. But his opening partner Marcus Trescothick could have no quarrel after he edged a rash cut off Tino Best to Jacobs. Best also claimed Nasser Hussain with a fast, outswinging yorker as England slumped to 54-3. It got worse after Mark Butcher passed 4,000 Test runs and was bowled by Collins for 52, and Graham Thorpe top-edged a hook off Fidel Edwards to fine leg for 10. But Andrew Flintoff (37 not out) and debutante Geraint Jones (32 not out) added 73 unbroken for the sixth wicket to give England hope. Collins took two for 37 while Best claimed two for 20 before leaving the field with an ankle injury. Lara could have topped off a great day with a slip catch to remove Flintoff off Ramnaresh Sarwan six overs from the end. The setback could not dampen another remarkable chapter in the Lara legacy. (AP)