BRIAN Charles Lara has crossed the 100-Test milestone, and deserves a round of applause for having done that. While the feat is remarkable even in absolute terms, the circumstances in which Lara has made it to this point have made is the real icing on the cake.
For sure, he is not the only one having done that. There have been many, and there will be many more. The pace at which professional cricket is being played these days, the day is not far off when someone will register the double-century of Test appearances. But Lara’s feat has significance of its own.
Lara might have played his hundredth Test much earlier than he has actually done. On the other hand, there were several phases during the illustrious career when it appeared that he may never get this far. Such has been the uncertainty surrounding his cricketing life, and that makes his feat that much more fascinating.
There were days of serious self-doubt and frustration in Lara’s life. He was a real star in a side that was on an embarrassing and rather stretched slide. That, as a cricketing nation, the West Indians had a great reputation, did not help either. The comparisons were never-ending, and the result of all those comparisons, naturally, fell on the wrong side of the New Age West Indians. If the lack of success was frustrating, the burden of history was crippling. Together the two issues made life tough for all concerned, not the least of those concerned was Lara.
While Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose were still making life difficult for the opposing batsmen, it was the West Indian batting lineup that was letting the team down with embarrassing consistency, and Lara was the focal point of all those comparisons. It took its toll on just not just Lara, but also on the entire team, and when that happens, dressing room atmosphere can be killing. It becomes a place of conspiracy rather than camaraderie, and this is exactly what happened with Lara and company.
While the West Indians continue to have a tough time, Lara found himself emotionally and mentally incapable of handling the pressure, and had to take time off the game, leaving everyone guessing will he ever return.
His second phase of friction was less dramatic and was played out mostly behind closed doors. This time it was Carl Hooper, another man of worth and calibre who had to leave the game, allowing Lara to wear the captain’s cap. Since the World Cup, Lara has played with much greater consistency than he was able to do for most part of his career.
Even today, he is the key batsman in the side, but years in the limelight have enabled him to handle the pressure and still perform. Though the team is still quite a distance away from regaining the lost glory, Lara has done enough to put the team back on track. How long can the team remain on that track, however, is a question that does not have a ready answer.
The team’s current strength is, without a doubt, Lara himself, as was proved yet once again in the first Test against the South Africans. Chris Gayle and Wavel Hinds continue to play to their potential, which simply means that on their day they will murder any attack, but will struggle with consistency. The big disappointments are Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who both have the technique and the capacity to stay on the crease and deliver more often, but have developed a strange mental attitude to throw away their good starts. Once Lara calls it a day, whenever it may happen, the West Indians will have to start all over again.
BRIAN Charles Lara has crossed the 100-Test milestone, and deserves a round of applause for having done that. While the feat is remarkable even in absolute terms, the circumstances in which Lara has made it to this point have made is the real icing on the cake.
