The Brian Lara appreciation thread

[mbuck]

Brian Charles Lara, what a player.
some of the best footwork ever and on his day, second to none.

retires as
leading runscorer in tests
highest score in test match cricket (400*)
highest score in FC cricket (501*)
two 300s (2nd overall, second to bradman)
nine 200s (2nd overall, second again to bradman)
34 hundereds, (2nd overall, second to tendulkar)


11953 test match runs @ 53 (34 tons, 48 fifties)
10387 ODI runs @ 41 (19 tons, 63 fifties)

such a great player

some of brians finest work
[youtube]gUONTjdNQqE[/youtube]
[youtube]yRFd59cJEPo[/youtube]

 

[ALwaysNorth]

A Cricket immortal , amassed huge score but always with style and flair , loved to watch the man bat .

 

[roostersgal4eva]

one of my fave Players - absolutle superstar

 

[Mr P@H]

a true great (Except when bludegeoning runs against Hants and England)

 

[King Elvis]

Not many people I say this about, but I wish he played for Australia. Like most of the best, he always said that he loved playing against Australia as to be the best he wanted to be tested against the best.

Burdened with the Captaincy when he was never comfortable with it, but still easily one of the best batsmen we've ever seen (stating the obvious). Cavalier batsman who, on his day, is easily and comfortably in the top echelon. Bit sad the manner in which he's finishing, but he deserves to be remember for his greatness. He also deserved to play with a team who cared as much as he does, but such is life.

Just beautiful to watch bat, hopefully he can go out with a solid knock tonight.

And hopefully the Redbacks try and recruit him.

 

[The_Reaper]

Not many people I say this about, but I wish he played for Australia. Like most of the best, he always said that he loved playing against Australia as to be the best he wanted to be tested against the best.

Burdened with the Captaincy when he was never comfortable with it, but still easily one of the best batsmen we've ever seen (stating the obvious). Cavalier batsman who, on his day, is easily and comfortably in the top echelon. Bit sad the manner in which he's finishing, but he deserves to be remember for his greatness. He also deserved to play with a team who cared as much as he does, but such is life.

Just beautiful to watch bat, hopefully he can go out with a solid knock tonight.

And hopefully the Redbacks try and recruit him.

should go to WA and finish his career on a high

 

[King Elvis]

should go to WA and finish his career on a high

Mate, fair go, we are shit.

You don't need him.

 

[Metallica_Man]

legend

 

[Greg Miller= Messiah]

A legend thanks for the many, many wonderful memories

 

[SBI]

He's out in the worst way. Sad end to a brilliant career.

 

[mbuck]

im so putting a fatwa on marlon samuels

 

[NSWCROW]

Their generation - BRADMAN
Our generation - LARA

 

[legitimatic]

My second favourite player ever, favourite non-Australian cricketer, legend, ****in Samuels though, very poor.

 

[mbuck]

perhaps we need a "marlon samuels ruined my night" thread

 

[Grimwood]

I've seen others score runs at a better average but in my time watching cricket none have scored runs in greater style.

I do feel a little bit sad right now.

 

[Leg_Spinning_Sensation]

Brilliant poetry he wrote with his willow. Is one of the best to ever play, played some of the most free flowing cricket with the bat you will ever see. Desperately sad way to end such a brilliant career though. Living legend of West Indies cricket. But the future continues to look unsure for the Windies. Can Bravo, Gayle and Ramdin among others start to produce consistently? Or will they be damned for another decade in the cellar.

 

[RooBuoy]

Brilliant poetry he wrote with his willow. Is one of the best to ever play, played some of the most free flowing cricket with the bat you will ever see. Desperately sad way to end such a brilliant career though. Living legend of West Indies cricket. But the future continues to look unsure for the Windies. Can Bravo, Gayle and Ramdin among others start to produce consistently? Or will they be damned for another decade in the cellar.

It'll be a long time before they're even half as good as the Windies of the 80's.

I can't see any of their youngsters being world class like Lara.

 

[mbuck]

i love it how he said he just wanted to entertain, he didnt want to be the leading run scorer etc, he just went out there to make the fans happy. great guy and an even better player

 

[Bombers_Forever]

Absolute legend........

And the best thing is how he conducted himself on the field and off it. He is a true gentlemen and a credit to himself and cricket. Farewell Lara, you will be missed.

 

[emperor]

It'll be a long time before they're even half as good as the Windies of the 80's.

I can't see any of their youngsters being world class like Lara.

As it stands the Windies are stuffed. They have been carried by Lara and his class has often lifted their performance dramatically. I just don't think they care about their cricket, their players just seem to be happy to coast along being below average. Bangladesh will overtake them soon.

As for B.C Lara, what more can be said. Absolutely brilliant cricketer to sustain that type of performance for so long. I'm happy that he retired now, there is nothing more he can do for the Windies.

 

[Cooldude]

And the best thing is how he conducted himself on the field and off it. He is a true gentlemen and a credit to himself and cricket. Farewell Lara, you will be missed.

Which means a lot of the time his behaviour's been appalling?

During the 90s, a lot of the opposing players are known to dislike Lara due to his extremely eccentric personality, and he's known to start plenty of unnecessary confrontations on the field on a regular basis. He has toned it down in recent years but he's hardly what you call a gentleman

And known to be wild off the field also

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

He's been the only exciting part of West Indian cricket for a long time now.

He was an enigma, but **** he was good.

 

[likka]

And known to be wild off the field also

Has a particular liking for massive white mammories attached to a brainless bimbo.

 

[King Elvis]

Has a particular liking for massive white mammories attached to a brainless bimbo.

Who doesnt.

 

[CrazyQ]

Best bat I've ever seen.