Lara gets Antigua/Barbuda award

ST JOHN’S: The new Antigua and Barbuda government plans to honour Brian Lara’s feat of the highest individual score in Test cricket with a national award and a lecture series. Information Minister, Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, made the announcements on Tuesday following a Cabinet meeting. “The Cabinet agreed with a proposal from the Prime Minister as follows: the launching of the Brian Lara Lecture Series, to refer Mr Lara’s name to the Honours Committee for due recognition as a national honouree, and to identify competent speakers including Dr Hillary Beckles for the Lecture series,” she said.

Lara, the West Indies captain, scored a world record 400 not out at the Antigua Recreation Ground during the drawn fourth and final Test against England earlier this month. It surpassed 380 made by Australia’s Mathew Hayden last October against Zimbabwe that had bettered Lara’s previous world record of 375 that he also made at the ARG ten years ago. Dr Quinn-Leandro also said the government will be honouring Sir Vivian Richards by ensuring that a bust commissioned by the previous government is erected. “It was agreed that the process should be activated  towards having the bust ready for unveiling at Independence celebrations 2004,” she said. (CMC)