Lara, greatest batsman ever

THE EDITOR: I waited until all the cricket pandits, critics and great players had their say before I penned this letter on Brian Charles Lara’s performance, on Sunday April 11, 2004 at 2.14 pm at the Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s. To just say congratulations to Lara is merely an understatement. I have been in Santa Cruz on a few occasions singing calypso. But what is most amazing to know, is that the peaceful little village of Cantaro, in the north west valley of Santa Cruz in Trinidad and Tobago, could have produced a super star in world cricket of such magnitude. By that magnificent knock at the Antigua Recreation Ground, Brian Charles Lara made himself (if records mean anything) undoubtedly the greatest batsman ever in the world.

It took character, patience, dedication, commitment, discipline, concentration, courage, bravery, and above all, intelligence and strength, gifts that Almighty God has endowed Lara with, to come from total humiliation and depression to rise and create such gigantic cricketing history. In that innings, Brian equaled the great Sir Donald Bradman’s record by becoming the only other batsman in the world to score 300 runs twice, and most importantly against mighty England. Lara had the record that he had broken and created on April 18, 1994 against England taken away from him by Mathew Hayden of Australia, and in less than seven months regained his record and created a new one against the same England on the same ground, and the same month, which is supposed to be a record in itself. There are many who say that the pitch favoured Lara making him able to score 400 runs.

That’s utter nonsense. There are more than five legal ways by which a batsman can be out in a game of  cricket, even the ones like when Australia’s Steve Waugh said he caught Lara in a certain match, and the television cameras proved that had not been so. What a shame. Lara scored his runs in less than two and a half days. And although some claim that the English batsmen are more competent than ours and had more than two and a half days in their turn at the crease — yet none of them were able to post 200 runs on the same pitch which the critics say offered no help to bowlers. Let me remind them though, if they forget, it was only on that dead pitch that our bowlers who they say are mediocre, were able to capture 15 English wickets for the first time in the series.

I must congratulate the world press and also Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and Iniaman-ul-Haq for their fair and honest comments on Brian’s performance. But those envious wolves like Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Javed Maindad and Mike Arthurton who did not want Lara to break the record against England again, they can huff and they can puff, but cannot break down so easily, the enormous cricketing roof that Brian Charles Lara has built. Praises must also be given to (just when it’s needed most) Ridley Jacobs for his fine knock and for keeping Lara company while he was accumulating his mammoth total of 400 runs. In closing I must say to you Lara, you are blessed by God with the gift of true genius. So keep on batting to the honour and glory of our beloved country and our region. And always keep Almighty God who has richly blessed you, first and foremost, before anything and anyone.

CONRAD B VALENTINE
Cedros