Brian Lara, How Good Was He?

[bombersfan4000]

Obviously wasn't the most consistent of the greats of that era. That was partly down to his own style and temperament and partly down to the fact he was basically carrying the West Indies team for the second half of his career.

His best was the best of that era IMO and I reckon he was the most entertaining in full flight as well.

He wasn't as consistent at the tendalkar, Ponting's but Lara's best was better. He was once of a generation batsman

 

[STFU Donnie]

That is a good point about Lara.

Sangakkara might also be like Lara in the past four years for him without checking his stats.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

I must confess to often leaving Sangakkara out of these discussions, but in truth, his stats suggest he was the best of the lot. Especially when you consider he kept wicket for half of his career.

His final three years are very impressive, although he only played 3 tests in 2013 and only 5 in 2015. The numbers:
19 tests, 2355 runs @ 65.42 but when you go back one more year you get:
29 tests and 3122 runs @ 61.21 putting him pretty level with Lara IMO.

By the way, my source is the excellent Howstat database, http://howstat.com/cricket/home.asp

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I reckon if you polled test match bowlers from the last 20 years they'd have Lara at No 1, regardless of whether others scored more runs or were more consistent

 

[STFU Donnie]

I reckon if you polled test match bowlers from the last 20 years they'd have Lara at No 1, regardless of whether others scored more runs or were more consistent

I reckon you'd be correct.

 

[Schraderbrau]

One of the best innings I saw Lara play was against South Africa in the opening game of the 2003 World Cup.

The West Indies went in as massive underdogs and Lara just tore SA's highly rated attack apart to lead them to an upset win.

His placement and power was incredible to watch, no better batsman to watch when he was in the groove.

I stayed up all night to watch this.

 

[Schraderbrau]

I reckon if you polled test match bowlers from the last 20 years they'd have Lara at No 1, regardless of whether others scored more runs or were more consistent

McGrath is on record saying that Lara is the best he bowled to which is interesting considering I think he dismissed him the most times.

 

[DrEvil_]

The back lift, the follow through, just pure joy to watch. No contest against Tendulkar or Ponting as the best of this era.

 

[Schraderbrau]

It's a bit of a misconception that Lara had a bad tecnique, as a younger player he was a really elegant player. I think he realised at some stage in his career that he saw the ball so well that a technique just wasn't that important.

I always thought the general rule was that if you didn't get him out before he reached about 30 it was game over.

It seems as if the majority of people rate Tendaulker as the best of the modern era and statistically that may be supported, but in terms of match winning innings I don't think anyone comes close to Lara. If test cricket is about winning matches rather than individual accomplishments, then Lara is hands down the best test batsman of the last 25 years imo.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

McGrath is on record saying that Lara is the best he bowled to which is interesting considering I think he dismissed him the most times.

When the cricket bottomed out today (when the two Windies fielders were fighting over the ball on the boundary) I watched this from our tour there in 1999.



The Windies had just got annihilated by South African 5-0 and lost the first test to us in the Caribbean, getting bowled out for 51 (their record low). Lara was about to lose the captaincy. The he went double century, unbeaten hundred and fifty, century and they managed to square the series 2-2. Against McGrath and Gillespie no less.

 

[Willo_]

I reckon I can remember McGrath getting on top of him one series in Australia, and even then you still didn't feel relaxed at anytime he was at the crease as he was always a chance to just turn it around and explode.

I remember when Mathew Hayden broke his highest score record that it was going to be only a matter of time until Lara got it back again and that he would sacrifice a team result if need be to get it (that could have just been my teenage know it all attitude) but sure enough he got that record back pretty quick.

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

I reckon I can remember McGrath getting on top of him one series in Australia, and even then you still didn't feel relaxed at anytime he was at the crease as he was always a chance to just turn it around and explode.

I remember when Mathew Hayden broke his highest score record that it was going to be only a matter of time until Lara got it back again and that he would sacrifice a team result if need be to get it (that could have just been my teenage know it all attitude) but sure enough he got that record back pretty quick.

haydens a flog

 

[DrEvil_]

When the cricket bottomed out today (when the two Windies fielders were fighting over the ball on the boundary) I watched this from our tour there in 1999.



The Windies had just got annihilated by South African 5-0 and lost the first test to us in the Caribbean, getting bowled out for 51 (their record low). Lara was about to lose the captaincy. The he went double century, unbeaten hundred and fifty, century and they managed to square the series 2-2. Against McGrath and Gillespie no less.

What a great series. Blewett getting his middle stump knocked back, Elliot lbw offering no shot, McGill comprehensively out bowling Warne, Collin 'Funky' Miller... Ah the memories.

 

[Schraderbrau]

When the cricket bottomed out today (when the two Windies fielders were fighting over the ball on the boundary) I watched this from our tour there in 1999.



The Windies had just got annihilated by South African 5-0 and lost the first test to us in the Caribbean, getting bowled out for 51 (their record low). Lara was about to lose the captaincy. The he went double century, unbeaten hundred and fifty, century and they managed to square the series 2-2. Against McGrath and Gillespie no less.

at 10 minutes is about the best shot I've seen

It's kind of sad but I was hoping the cricket would be washed out yesterday so they'd put on highlights of when the WI were awesome

 

[krisholio14]

I reckon I can remember McGrath getting on top of him one series in Australia, and even then you still didn't feel relaxed at anytime he was at the crease as he was always a chance to just turn it around and explode.

I remember when Mathew Hayden broke his highest score record that it was going to be only a matter of time until Lara got it back again and that he would sacrifice a team result if need be to get it (that could have just been my teenage know it all attitude) but sure enough he got that record back pretty quick.

I asked the question on the greatest knocks thread 'Has there ever been a more selfish batsman to win more games off his own bat than Brian Lara?'

Often put his own batting ahead of the team, but nevertheless, was easily the best batsman I've seen at being able single handedly win games. When he was on, the only player who could stop Brian Lara was Brian Lara.

This is all without mentioning the sheer majesty of his batting at it's very best.

 

[Belnakor]

I must confess to often leaving Sangakkara out of these discussions, but in truth, his stats suggest he was the best of the lot. Especially when you consider he kept wicket for half of his career.

His final three years are very impressive, although he only played 3 tests in 2013 and only 5 in 2015. The numbers:
19 tests, 2355 runs @ 65.42 but when you go back one more year you get:
29 tests and 3122 runs @ 61.21 putting him pretty level with Lara IMO.

By the way, my source is the excellent Howstat database, http://howstat.com/cricket/home.asp

i'm a big Sanga fan but he filled his boots on minnows. career 57 avg is actually only 52 if you take out bangas and zim

 

[Belnakor]

I reckon if you polled test match bowlers from the last 20 years they'd have Lara at No 1, regardless of whether others scored more runs or were more consistent

ask Murali. Lara put him to the sword like noone else.

 

[blackcat]

What hasn't been discussed is how these three ended their careers.

If we look at the final three calendar years of their careers we find the following numbers:
Lara (31 tests): 3037 runs @ 55.22;
Ponting (28 tests): 1828 runs @ 37.31;
Tendulkar (24 tests): 1389 runs @ 35.61.

I think the feeling was quite rife that Ponting and Tendulkar hung around a bit too long, but it seems Lara went out at this best. In fact, the year before this (ie his 4th last), Lara scored 1344 runs @ 74.67 to give a final four year total of 4381 runs @ 60.01! How many batsmen can claim their final four years to be their most productive?

Kumar?

 

[blackcat]

i'm a big Sanga fan but he filled his boots on minnows. career 57 avg is actually only 52 if you take out bangas and zim

take the gloves off him tho. Then allow him to play against the big-guns.

Its a hypothetical afterall.

 

[footyfan1978]

In terms of skill he was the best of last twenty years. Mentally though he was fragile at times, which is strange because when he put his mind to it he could play some amazing Test innings. To score a 500 in first class cricket and a 400 in a Test is incredible. On his day far more exciting than Tendulkar but in terms of reliability Tendulkar a better player. He was more of an individual player than a team player. My only real knock on him. If I want someone batting for a World Cup final and a got the choice of Ponting, Tendulkar and Lara I'm taking Ponting every time.
He is up there with Viv Richards, and Gordon Greenidge as my favourite West Indian batsmen to watch. I rate him better than Richie Richardson as their best bat since they started to slide in mid 1990's.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Kumar?

It 's there. Look more closely.

 

[Natho]

Absolute genius.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

i'm a big Sanga fan but he filled his boots on minnows. career 57 avg is actually only 52 if you take out bangas and zim

Hehehe What a knob he is.

How about Australia offers SL a 5 Test series?

 

[Broar]

Hehehe What a knob he is.

How about Australia offers SL a 5 Test series?

Exactly its not like Tendulkar didn't cash in against the minnows either.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Pointing averages 78 against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. But only played 7 Tests against them. Sangakkara played 20 of 134 Tests against those countries. Australian ignorance coming to the fore!

 

[MisterMarcus]

I was 11 when he and richie richardson put on about 290 runs back at the scg in the summer of 92-93. I remember thinking that we would never get them out. He ended up being run out for 277 and it rates up there with one of the top batting performances i can remember. He dominated against a fairly decent bowling line up of Warne,McDermott and hughes.

Just looking up the scorecards, it's clear that 1992-3 series was the one that got away from us.

We had them 8 down in Brisbane on the last day, and couldn't bowl them out.

Went 1-0 in Melbourne then racked up 500 in the first innings in Sydney....then came the magical Lara/Richardson partnership to save them.

And of course the heartbreak of Adelaide.

Definite "sliding doors" material was that one.