It comes as no surprise to cricket enthusiasts that Brian Lara had alwayschosen to regain his top form against Australia. His exceptional talent and determination have always shone through, making him a force to be reckoned with on the cricket field.
Two nations have been greatly affected by the exceptional talent of Brian Lara: England and, surprisingly enough, Australia – the unrivaled champions of Test cricket.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to the Australian summer of 2000, when the West Indies cricket team, captained by Jimmy Adams, faced numerous challenges. It was a tough time for them as they struggled on the field. To make matters worse, their batting superstar Brian Lara was dealing with a hamstring injury and faced criticism for being accompanied by his girlfriend during the tour.
Brian made a powerful statement at the beginning of the tour by scoring back-to-back hundreds in two exhibition matches.
This clearly showed his determination to take on the formidable Aussies. Many believed that he would continue to dominate his opponents throughout the series and keep them at a distance.
However, when the moment of truth arrived during the first test match of Frank Worrell at the Gabba, he seemed completely lost and his team suffered a crushing defeat.
This continued with their poor performance at WACA, where Lara’s luck worsened as he fell victim to McGrath’s 300th test wicket by getting dismissed for a golden duck.
Brian’s journey has been nothing short of a thrilling roller coaster ride. Despite facing more failures than successes, he never let them hold him back. With unwavering determination, he always managed to bounce back stronger, demonstrating not only his incredible talent but also his remarkable mental resilience.
The first two test matches were rather quick, ending inside three days. Unfortunately, the ‘Prince’ didn’t spend much time at the crease. However, he did get an opportunity to gain valuable practice before the third test match begins at adelaide oval by playing against a formidable Australia A team in a four-day first-class match.
In response to Australia A’s strong performance, the West Indies team found themselves in a challenging position with 80 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Despite his hamstring injury, Brian Lara bravely took to the field and exhibited his exceptional skills on the third day of the four-day match.
In an impressive display, he scored a remarkable 231 runs, comprising of 40 fours and two sixes. His outstanding performance showcased both his determination and talent, making him a true asset to his team.
His exceptional double century could not have come at a more opportune moment, especially considering his underwhelming performance of only 21 runs in the first two Tests of the series.
Australia coach John Buchanan made a regrettable error by underestimating the significance of Lara’s impressive double century against Australia A in the lead-up to the Third Test.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, Buchanan expressed some doubts about Lara’s ability to maintain his current form. He mentioned that facing a new set of highly skilled Test bowlers, whom Lara hasn’t had much success against in the past, might pose a challenge for him.
However, it would be unjust to underestimate a player of Lara’s caliber. In the third test at Adelaide Oval, Jimmy Adams won the toss and made a wise decision to bat first on a delightful sunny day. Surprisingly, the West Indies’ opening batsmen withstood the early challenges without losing wickets, which was a departure from their previous performances in the series.
However, just moments before the lunch break, West Indies faced a setback with the loss of Sherwin Campbell in the 25th over of the first session. Brian Lara then stepped onto the field, adopting a cautious approach. Uncharacteristically, he refrained from playing aggressive strokes and focused on defending as he aimed to see off a few overs before reaching the lunch interval.
During a break from the game, Ricky Ponting playfully teased Lara by remarking on his batting style. He humorously suggested that Lara’s cautious approach may have caused him to miss out on scoring opportunities on a good batting deck, adding that he seemed to have a slight fear of getting out.
Ponting’s words served as a catalyst for Lara, as immediately after lunch, despite being struck on the helmet by McGrath’s bowling, he swiftly raced to a half-century. With strokes of unparalleled quality, he spared no Australian bowlers in his pursuit of dominance.
Lara, along with skipper Jimmy Adams (49), impressed everyone by their remarkable performance against the Australian bowling attack. They formed a strong partnership, grinding out an impressive 183-run stand for the fourth wicket before and after the tea break. Their resilience and determination were on display as they dominated the game for over three hours.
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, he reached his century after the tea interval, effortlessly scoring it off only 140 balls. The second half of his innings was even more impressive, with him reaching fifty runs in just as many deliveries. He fearlessly took on the leg spinner Stuart MacGill, showcasing his attacking style and proving himself as a formidable force on the field.
The Trinidadian truly impressed the capacity South Australian crowd with his exceptional batting skills, delivering a trademark Lara innings that left the Australian attack completely bewildered.
It was the first time in the series that they were faced with such chaos and uncertainty.
Brian Lara showcased an unstoppable performance to silence any doubts about his form, proving that he still possessed the hunger for big scores, a trait that had usually been associated with the batter.
With an outstanding score of 136 not out on the opening day of the Third Test against Australia, Lara expressed his satisfaction in making a significant contribution to West Indian cricket and erasing any lingering debts.
He made a highly anticipated comeback, scoring a remarkable 182 runs in the first innings to uplift the spirits of the Windies team.
However, he couldn’t replicate that performance in the second innings. Cricket is a team sport where everyone’s contribution matters for a victory.
Unfortunately, in Brian Lara’s case, his exceptional batting skills didn’t translate into a win for his team, which is truly disappointing.
Even though Australia emerged victorious in the test match, their admission of feeling tense and being rattled by Lara’s magnificent innings speaks volumes about the incredible abilities of the left-hander when he was fully focused and determined.
It serves as a testament to his exceptional skills and demonstrates the impact he had on the game when he was in top form.
Something for the present day team’s youngster to learn from?
Lara sketch exclusively prepared by S. Rajnikanth
