Brian Lara, How Good Was He?

[STFU Donnie]

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.

It was one of those annoying seasons when they alternated the tests and one day matches. After the SCG test Australia played the Windies in a one dayer and Dean Jones decided to try and rile Ambrose by asking him to remove his wrist band. Ambrose was furious and really started to charge in - he took a 5-for that evening. In the commentary box, Michael Holding predicted that the Windies wouldn't lose another match on the tour. He was correct. They rolled to an easy win in the one day tournament and won the tests in Adelaide (very close match) and in Perth. The Perth match was one of the worst home defeats ever, with Ambrose taking his famous spell of 7 for 1.

Thanks Deano.

 

[krisholio14]

It was one of those annoying seasons when they alternated the tests and one day matches. After the SCG test Australia played the Windies in a one dayer and Dean Jones decided to try and rile Ambrose by asking him to remove his wrist band. Ambrose was furious and really started to charge in - he took a 5-for that evening. In the commentary box, Michael Holding predicted that the Windies wouldn't lose another match on the tour. He was correct. They rolled to an easy win in the one day tournament and won the tests in Adelaide (very close match) and in Perth. The Perth match was one of the worst home defeats ever, with Ambrose taking his famous spell of 7 for 1.

Thanks Deano.

Curtley could still get out there today and bowl with more fire than most of these blokes.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Curtley could still get out there today and bowl with more fire than most of these blokes.

He looks pretty fit, doesn't he? He'd probably blind himself with that hair flying around.

 

[Spanghertron]

He looks pretty fit, doesn't he? He'd probably blind himself with that hair flying around.

His hair looks like he just stuck one of these on his head. He would still be one scary guy to face on a cricket pitch though,even these days.

 

[JackOutback]

I tend to rate both Lara and Tendulkar a class above Ponting of the modern era but that may be because I saw much more of Ponting, flaws and all (particularly at the end). Lara probably the best of the modern era for mine in terms of talent.

 

[footyfan1978]

Curtley could still get out there today and bowl with more fire than most of these blokes.

Delusional. He got smashed for over 20 in an over in one of those games in USA only a few weeks ago. The people smashing them had retired too so not exactly sure why you imagine he can bowl with any fire now. Allan Donald, Wasim Akram, Glen Mcgrath and Courtney Walsh were all on that tour.
They are all well past it, particularly Walsh and Ambrose but Akram and Donald still showed the basics of skills they had.

 

[blackcat]

It 's there. Look more closely.

I thought you were talking Sachin Lara Punter... on the first page I thought the argument was parsing those three players.

 

[krisholio14]

Delusional. He got smashed for over 20 in an over in one of those games in USA only a few weeks ago. The people smashing them had retired too so not exactly sure why you imagine he can bowl with any fire now. Allan Donald, Wasim Akram, Glen Mcgrath and Courtney Walsh were all on that tour.
They are all well past it, particularly Walsh and Ambrose but Akram and Donald still showed the basics of skills they had.

It was tongue in cheek my friend

 

[blackcat]

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.

you say cash in.

on a different level, the game has fundamentally altered and economics dictate the politics and strategy of the game out of Mumbai and London. Murali and Kumar will forever be disadvantaged coming from the minnows. A bit like being a Pakistani cricketer in the epoch after 9-11 meant you could never test yourself on the highest level like Imran and Wasim.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Delusional. He got smashed for over 20 in an over in one of those games in USA only a few weeks ago. The people smashing them had retired too so not exactly sure why you imagine he can bowl with any fire now. Allan Donald, Wasim Akram, Glen Mcgrath and Courtney Walsh were all on that tour.
They are all well past it, particularly Walsh and Ambrose but Akram and Donald still showed the basics of skills they had.

Points at the silly man and laughs.

 

[STFU Donnie]

I thought you were talking Sachin Lara Punter... on the first page I thought the argument was parsing those three players.

Sachin Lara Punter. Sounds like a Michael Clarke evening out.

 

[Glacier]

Lara was the most pleasing to watch
That backllift...I tried to copy it for a while but no hope
Had to laugh at a couple of people earlier saying he was " mentally fragile"

Lara always stepped up when challenged

 

[Blue1980]

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

Its a hypothetical afterall.

Sangakara only averaging 52 against the big guns? What a dud!

 

[Visions]

Pfft. Flat track bully was Lara.....

 

[Super Hans]

I tend to rate both Lara and Tendulkar a class above Ponting of the modern era but that may be because I saw much more of Ponting, flaws and all (particularly at the end). Lara probably the best of the modern era for mine in terms of talent.

Am I the only one who rates Ponting over Sachin? I rate Kallis over Sachin too. I reckon he was pretty overrated.

Lara > Ponting > Kallis > Tendulkar. I'd almost have Sanga over Tendulkar.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Am I the only one who rates Ponting over Sachin? I rate Kallis over Sachin too. I reckon he was pretty overrated.

Lara > Ponting > Kallis > Tendulkar. I'd almost have Sanga over Tendulkar.

Lara and Tendulkar scored lots of runs and centuries against the best attack in the world. Ponting didn't, for obvious reasons. Not his fault of course, but it's a factor that should be considered.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Tendulkar a mile ahead of Ponting for me, whose technical issues made him a horrible batsman really once his eye went.

 

[Hellgood]

Tendulkar a mile ahead of Ponting for me, whose technical issues made him a horrible batsman really once his eye went.

I would rate Tendulkar ahead of Ponting as well, but I don't think it is that fair or relevant to put much emphasis on the way Ponting finished his career.

 

[Doss]

Brian Lara is my favourite player of all time.

Just majestic to watch. I barracked for him to make big runs whenever he played against us. That 226 he made in his last Test in Australia will forever live in my memory.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Brian Lara is easily the next best batsman after Bradman. Then arguable someone like like Ponting follows. Brilliant player. Not many batsman in the world can win over Australian kids like Lara did with my generation. Every kid at my Cricket club either wanted to be Lara or Ambrose back in the day.

 

[JackOutback]

I find it interesting that people rate the players with more natural talent ahead of the ones who fight for every run. I always rated Lara and Tendulkar at the top, followed by Steve Waugh. He had a similar average to all the greats over a large number of Tests because his fighting spirit was superior to probably anyone. That's great cricket too.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Natural talent means you're better. But then you also have to have the toughness to apply yourself, and obviously Steve Waugh was a tough player. Everybody respects that. But he'll be thought of a step behind the others because he didn't have the same amount of flair.

 

[JackOutback]

I tend to think if two players achieved similar results and one had more 'natural talent' then the other guy is probably better. To achieve the same results with less in the arsenal is a sign of a great cricketer. Not rating Waugh ahead of Lara, but I have him ahead of guys like Ponting and Clarke.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

I don't know how to articulate it. There's something about showing a high level of talent as a youngster. Even before you start playing tests. It took a while for Steve Waugh to elevate himself to the top echelon. Ponting could've played for Australia at 14. Clarke is not in the conversation afaik.

 

[Oaktree]

you say cash in.

on a different level, the game has fundamentally altered and economics dictate the politics and strategy of the game out of Mumbai and London. Murali and Kumar will forever be disadvantaged coming from the minnows. A bit like being a Pakistani cricketer in the epoch after 9-11 meant you could never test yourself on the highest level like Imran and Wasim.

It is a very good point.

Someone like Younis Khan is another example of a player with ATG statistics but limited exposure to the mainstream.