On April 12, 2003, Brian Lara, in his first Test match since being reinstated as the captain of the West Indies, along with Daren Ganga, scored centuries as the West Indies mounted a determined comeback against Australia in the first Test held in Georgetown. Lara faced jeers from sections of the Guyanese crowd who were displeased with the dismissal of their fellow countryman Carl Hooper following the World Cup. He scored 110 runs before getting out while trying to sweep Brad Hogg for a boundary.
The build up
Brian Lara returned as captain for the second time amid much speculation about whether the legendary batsman was the right choice to restore the glory days of West Indies cricket.
During his first tenure as captain from February 1998 to January 1999, team results were mixed, although his batting occasionally reached impressive heights despite some inconsistencies. With many young players on the team and veteran Carl Hooper announcing his retirement in frustration over Lara’s return, along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul being less expressive, it became clear that the WICB selectors had to choose the great Lara over other candidates.
Lara exercised positivity despite early setbacks
Brian remained optimistic and understood his role and significance in West Indies cricket, never shying away from his responsibilities. But When his team was dismissed for a modest 237 on the first day of the series’ opening Test in Guyana, despite local hero Chanderpaul’s impressive innings and his own struggles with scoring, it probably sparked worries about the Windies’ prospects against the strong Australians.
Lara needed to excel after Australia set a massive total in their first innings.
Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting scored centuries, putting the West Indies in a challenging position as they strive to avert a quick loss in the first Test. The West Indies navigated five overs of spin in diminishing light to finish with 16 runs without losing a wicket at the end of day 2.
Day 3 focused entirely on Brian Lara’s exceptional batting skills.
On the third day, Hinds was dismissed cheaply, but Daren Ganga and debutant Devon Smith displayed resilience as they built a solid partnership of 58 runs. Just when it seemed that Smith was on track for a significant score, he fell victim to Jason Gillespie’s bowling. This brought Lara to the crease, and he appeared in excellent form right from the start, effortlessly sweeping MacGill and Hogg while pulling Lee and Gillespie with disdain. Some of his shots may have looked flashy, but he knew precisely what he wanted to achieve. With Ganga providing strong support, Lara continued to play aggressively.
Great partnership between the two Trinidadians.
In an intense second session and under significant pressure, Lara and Ganga, two Trinidadians, forged a remarkable 100-run partnership to keep their team in the game. As tea time neared, with both batsmen hitting boundaries, it was hard to believe that their team was still behind in the first innings. Daren Ganga had faced just one ball in his first innings and scored a duck.
However, in his second innings of the test match, he batted like a different player and achieved his maiden Test century. While Daren Ganga appeared rejuvenated, Lara showcased his familiar prowess. The Trinidadian left-hander delivered strokes of the highest quality, sending a flurry of boundaries to all parts of the field; he reached his hundred shortly after tea off 140 deliveries and struck 18 fours.
Lara’s dismissal dashed the West Indies’ hopes of salvaging the test.
Lara scored 110 runs off 157 deliveries and appeared poised to achieve a significant score before a wrongly judged sweep shot resulted in him hitting his own wicket. He felt immense disappointment at getting out, as he had always aspired to make big hundreds, understanding that such scores were crucial for the team. Being the cornerstone of the batting line-up, he knew he needed to score substantial runs to give his team a chance against the formidable Aussies. However, he is human and cannot do it all by himself all the time. Nevertheless, he was thrilled to see Ganga secure his first Test hundred.
Worries regarding a three-day Test were averted when Lara produced the type of innings that the Australians had dreaded. Nevertheless, despite Chanderpaul’s outstanding display in the first innings and the great partnership between Lara and Ganga in the second, the West Indies could not establish a competitive score on such a placid pitch. Their downfall within merely two sessions indicated that Australia was not only in command but also operating at their preferred tempo.
