Cricket story by Fred Smith, Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:36:00 GMT


Brain Lara became the highest run-scorer in the history of test cricket when he flicked Glen McGrath to record his 11,175th run. He overtook Australian great Allan Border, who had amassed 11,174 runs in his career.

The 36-year-old West Indian batting prodigy has had a up and down career that has seen him live through the worst slump in West Indies cricket history. That he has withstood all that has gone wrong with the team in the past decade speaks volumes about his commitment to the game and to his country.

Lara was a happy man after the day's play, which saw his team cross the 400 run-mark for the first time in this series, "I know there are the likes of Sachin (Tendulkar) and Ponting, guys who are four, five years younger than me that are definitely going to challenge the world record, or inevitably break it. But to be the leading run-scorer in Test cricket is momentous for me," he said adding that to be mentioned in the same breath as Border was a great honor.

Allan Border himself paid rich tributes to Lara and said that he was a genius, "I pass on my congratulations to Brian. He is a very worthy holder of the mantle of greatest run scorer in Tests. I have had the pleasure of seeing him play a lot of cricket and there is no doubt that he is a genuine genius." he said. Lara is also the only batsman to have scored 400 runs in a single innings. He achieved that record at Antigua in April 2004 against England, surpassing Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe. The record for the highest first-class score also belongs to Lara. He amassed 501 playing for Warwickshire.

Lara said that he would continue playing and would try to help West Indies regain their lost glory, "I've always said if I'm liability, I'll take the exit door but as long as I stay an asset to West Indies cricket, stay fit and injury free, I'm going to carry on. I've had my ups and downs but I'm still here, I'm still fighting, I'm still playing."

Australia leads the three match series 2-0.

More Sporting Stuff