England feeling bite of a wounded tiger

THE EDITOR: Brian Lara has 1) regained the world record 2) rewritten history, and 3) responded to his critics! That record held by Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden did not last a year! Lara became the second man to score two triple centuries and the first player to score a Test 400 (runs). This is the same man who has become the butt of a lot of uncharitable comments from Mike Holding, Colin Croft, Richie Richardson. Only Andy Roberts will be spared secondary to his part in the preparation of the Test pitch at St John’s, Antigua. Lara has also stopped the mouth of Dancing Brave whether the sportscaster likes it or not.

Sportsmen and women have their ups and downs in a limited career (age is a factor, ask the Bronze Queen Merlene Ottley-Paige the Jamaican born sprinter). Those who are least understanding of this usually vent their feelings at the sporting targets yet these are the same who would praise their heroes when they shine. The West Indies performed at its best when its back is against the wall and even though England has won the series handsomely, it is feeling the bite of a wounded tiger! Despite the Atlas effort by Lara to inspire a mammoth 751 for five declared, batting is a team effort.

JEFFREY M JOSEPH
Fyzabad