Mankind isn't a landscape of just wonderful people. Lots of human beings in this world are mediocre, boring and bad. However, nature occasionally generates incredible humanexemplars, wonderful people who's existence is pure light for the world, making it a more beautiful and exciting place where to be.
After delighting Millions of people across the globe with his batting pursuits for the past 17 years finally Brian Charles Lara calls it a day ... It's been a complete and utter privilege watching his career ... When in full flight he is a sight for the Gods ... Has any one ever played Cricket the way he did, Probably No ... Has any player been so burdened by the weight of expectations ??? Richard Hardlee was one, Sachin Tendulkar another and Mike Atherton in the Nineties but lara remained near the top till the end of his career ... There were breathless highs and inexplicable lows ...
The ambitions of his mind as much as the liquidity of his movements have been of fascination ... No one's got 365, so he gets 375 then a couple of months later, he gets 500. Time passes - there were no challengers - appears that was his high. Then Hayden gets 380 - Thats the new high. Guess who bounces back - passes 380 and gets 400. Its all individualistic, may be - but that bit (selective timing) captures the essence of Brian Charles Lara ...
Brian Lara's 277 against Aussies in 1993 his maiden test century, 501 against Durham in 1994, 213 against Aussies in 1999, his unbeaten 153 in the following test, Massive 600 odd runs that he emulated in 3 tests against SL in 2001, almost 10 years to the day, Lara breaks the record again goes on and scores a magnificient unbeaten 400 against the same opposition which he teared apart a decade ago, his masterful 216 against Pak in Multan are just some testimonials of his greatness ...
In 2003 a man at deep midwicket was taken out and was put beside another behind point. This comes from Adam Gilchrist in The Australian a couple of seasons ago. "Mistake," hissed Lara. Next ball Lara lofted to midwicket for six. Gilchrist taunted Lara to take on the two men behind point instead. Lara strung it between them for four. Next ball was straighter, Lara backed away and strung it through again. Best remain silent now, Gilchrist then decided. This was to demonstrate precision of his skill. But I particularly liked "mistake". 'You don't know what I can do?' was the strut. That is the Lara motif.
A bloody legend, that's what he was ... Nobody made the game look better and few ever played it better ...
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