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Brian Charles Lara is one of the greatest cricketers from West Indies. In the words of U.S President Barack Obama, Lara is the Michael Jordan of Cricket. Here are 47 facts about the famous cricketer:
- He was born on May 2, 1969 in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago. He was fondly called Princey.
- He was the tenth child of Pearl Lara and Bunty Lara.
- He has two daughters Sydny Lara and Tyla Lara from Trinidadian journalist and model Leasel Rovedas.
- At age of six he was enrolled in to Harvard Coaching Clinic by his sister for Sunday session of cricket coaching.
- Lara did his schooling at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School and San Juan Secondary School at Santa Cruz.
- His career started to blossom at Fatima College under coach Harry Ramdass.
- As 14 years old, In the School Boys League, he scored 745 runs and got selected to the Trinidad National Under-16 team.
- By the age of 15 he started playing under -19 Youth cricket tournament and was selected for West Indies in under -19 cricket.
- Besides cricket Lara was good at Soccer and Table Tennis and represented Trinidad and Tobago as a junior.
- Captaining the Trinidad and Tobago in the ‘West Indies Youth Championship’ in 1987, he set a record by scoring 498 runs. They went on to win the championship.
- He made his first debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the ‘Red Stripe Cup’ in January 1988 and scored 92 against likes of Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshal.
- He captained the West Indies team in the ‘Bicentennial Youth World Cup’ in Australia. West Indies reached the semi finals.
- The unfortunate death of his father delayed his selection to West Indies cricket team, during India’s tour of West Indies.
- He was made the captained of Trinidad and Tobago at the age of 20 years in 1990, to become the youngest ever captain for ‘T & T.’ He led them to victory in the ‘Geddes Grant Shield,’ limited over version.
- Lara made his debut for the West Indies team against Pakistan in both limited over version and in the test during the West Indies tour of Pakistan in 1990.
- Lara scored his maiden Test century in Sidney during the West Indies tour of Australia in 1993. He scored 277 runs in his fifth test and helped West Indies win the series 2-1 against Australia.
- Playing for Warwickshire against Durham, Lara scored 501 not out with 10 sixes and 62 fours. This is a record in the ‘First Class Cricket.’ He played for 474 minutes facing 427 balls.
- Lara was awarded the ‘BBC Sports Overseas Personality of the Year 1994,’ and was also the ‘Wisden Cricketers of the Year 1995.’
- During the West Indies tour of Australia in November 2000, his failure in the first test was attributed English model Linnsy Ward, his girl friend.
- Lara reclaimed the highest score in Test cricket, when he scored 400 not out for West Indies against England in 2004.
- Lara holds the distinctions of scoring nine double centuries and two triple centuries in test, apart from two quadruple-centuries.
- As per Wisden Almanac his inning of 153 not out against Australia in the third test DURING THE 1998-99 series was the best inning next only to that of Sir Donald Bradman.
- Lara averaged 46.50 in the 2001 tour of Australia to bag the ‘Man of the Carlton Series.’
- Lara dominated the 2001 Sri Lanka series to the extent; he scored 42% of the teams’ total. He scored double century and a century in the third test of that series.
- Lara was considered as the most dangerous batsman he had bowled, as per Muttiah Muralitharan.
- In 2003, Lara was appointed as the captain for series against touring Australian and Sri Lanka cricket team. West Indies went on to win the ‘ICC Champions Trophy 2004’ in England under his captaincy.
- Lara along with three other West Indies players were not considered for 2005 series against South Africa, due to sponsorship deals. Players were in contract with Cable & Wireless against Cricket Board’s main sponsor Digicel.
- On April 26, 2006, Lara was reinstated as the captain of West Indies cricket team for the third time and finished second best to Australia in the ‘DLF’ and ‘ICC Champions Trophy.’
- On December 16, 2006 in the fifth ODI played at Karachi against Pakistan, he completed 10,000 runs. The first West Indies player to do so.
- On April 19, 2007, Lara announced his retirement before the final world cup game against England. He scored 18 runs, before being run out.
- Lara’s cricketing credentials was acknowledged by the great Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, according to him ‘Lara was the greatest batsman he has ever bowled to.’
- Lara was roped in by ‘Mumbai Champs’ for the ‘Indian Cricket League’ on July 23, 2007.
- Lara is the ambassador for ‘Chittagong King’ in the ‘Bangladesh Premier League,’ from second season onwards.
- To commemorate Lords cricket ground’s bicentenary anniversary, Lara representing MCC played a match against Rest of the World XI on July 5, 2014. Lara scored 23 runs.
- Lara was part of All Star T20 Cricket Match played in USA in November 2015, to globalize cricket. He was part of ‘Sachin Blasters XI.’
- Lara returned to cricket to play for ‘Southern Rocks’ in the ‘2010-11 Stanbic Bank 20 Series,’ a T20 cricket competition held in Zimbabwe.
- With base price 400,000 dollars, Lara failed to find a franchisee and went unsold during the ‘IPL 2011’ auction.
- Lara has started a charitable ‘Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation’ in memory of his parents. The foundation addresses the health and social cause.
- The ‘Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ‘appointed Lara as its sports ambassador and travels around the world on a diplomatic passport.
- Lara was presented with the insignia of the ‘Order of Australia’ by Australian Prime minister Kevin Rudd, in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on November 29. 2009.
- Lara has participated in Soccer Aid 2008 and 2010, playing for Rest of World against English professional and celebrities. He was talented footballer in his youth.
- Lara took to golf after cricket and won many tournaments. He was made as an honorary member for lifetime by ‘Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.’
- Lara authored a book titled ‘Beating the Field: My Own Story’ with ‘Brian Scovell.’
- Lara was inducted in to ‘ICC Hall of Fame’ in the year 2012, in recognition of his achievements as a legend of the game.
- The batting collapse against Australia in the recently concluded first test prompted, Lara to call for reconciliation between the ‘West Indies Cricket Board’ and the players. He feels lack of trust is harming the game of cricket in the Caribbean.
- Lara is the only West Indies cricketer to have scored 10,000 or more runs in both, ODI and Test cricket.
- Lara opened a cancer treatment centre in his name in Port of Spain. His mother passed away on January 2002 due to cancer.
