Brian Charles Lara

 Full name: Brian Charles Lara

Born: May 2, 1969, in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago

Role: Left-handed batsman

Teams: West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, Warwickshire, Southern Rocks, among others

Career Highlights

• Highest individual score in Test cricket: 400 not out vs England (2004) — still the world record.

• Highest individual score in first-class cricket: 501 not out for Warwickshire vs Durham (1994) — also still a record.

• Test runs: 11,953 in 131 matches (average 52.88)

• ODI runs: 10,405 in 299 matches

Style & Legacy

Brian Lara was known for his elegant stroke play, especially his cover drives and ability to build monumental innings under pressure. Many cricket analysts rank him among the greatest batsmen of all time, alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Sir Vivian Richards

🏆 World Records

1. Highest Individual Score in Test Cricket:

   • 400 not out vs England, Antigua, 2004.

   • Still the only quadruple century in Test history.

2. Highest Individual Score in First-Class Cricket:

   • 501 not out for Warwickshire vs Durham, 1994.

   • Remains the highest first-class score ever recorded.

3. Only Player to Hold Both Records Simultaneously:

   • Lara is the only cricketer to have held the world record for the highest Test and first-class scores at the same time.

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     Massive Innings & Batting Feats

     4. Highest Match Aggregate in a Test by a West Indian:

        • 688 runs in a single series vs England, 1994 — included his 375 (then a world record).

     5. Most Double Centuries for West Indies:

        • 9 double centuries — more than any other West Indian batsman.

     6. Fastest 500 Runs in a First-Class Match:

        • Reached 500 in just 474 balls (Warwickshire vs Durham)

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        • 🏅 Career Milestones

          7. Test Runs: 11,953 runs @ 52.88 average, 34 centuries.

          8. ODI Runs: 10,405 runs @ 40.48 average, 19 centuries.

          9. Most Runs by a West Indian in Tests — until recently surpassed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

          10. 🔥 Memorable Performances

              10. 153 vs Australia (Barbados, 1999)*

                  • Considered one of the greatest Test innings ever, chasing 308 against McGrath, Warne, and Gillespie on a crumbling pitch.

              11. 375 vs England (Antigua, 1994)

              • Broke Garry Sobers’ long-standing world record at the time.

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        • 🏁 Brian Lara’s Retirement from International Cricket

          📅 Date: April 21, 2007
          Event: ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
          Match: West Indies vs England, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
          Format: One Day International (ODI)
          Age at Retirement: 37

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🗞️ Announcement

• Lara announced his retirement from all international cricket just before West Indies’ final group match of the 2007 World Cup (played at home in the Caribbean).

• He said to the crowd:

  “This is my last international game for West Indies. I’ve given this game everything, and I think I’ve done my bit.”

🏏 Final Match Details

• Opponent: England

• Date: April 21, 2007

• Venue: Kensington Oval, Barbados

• Result: England won by 1 wicket

• Lara’s final innings:

  • Scored 18 runs before being run out after a mix-up with Marlon Samuels.

  • The crowd gave him a standing ovation as he walked off — a fitting farewell to a legend.

  • 🌟 After Retirement

    • Lara continued to play in charity matches and exhibition games, and made brief returns in franchise leagues (like the Indian Cricket League in 2007).

    • He later took on roles as a cricket commentator, mentor, and ambassador for West Indies cricket.

    • In 2021, he was appointed a performance mentor by Cricket West Indies, working with both the senior and junior teams

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    • Reaction to His Retirement

      • Fans and players worldwide praised Lara as one of the greatest batsmen ever.

      • Sir Vivian Richards said:

        “Brian has carried the hopes of West Indies cricket on his shoulders for years — he’s a true giant of the game.”

      • The ICC called him “a genius whose records will stand the test of time.”