Lara inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Brian Charles Lara became the 17th West Indian cricketer to be inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame at the ICC Awards ceremony on Saturday at the Water’s Edge Resort, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.{{more}}

The left-handed Trinidadian dedicated the honour to his deceased father, Bunty Lara, who died before his son began playing international cricket.

Brian Lara made his test debut against Pakistan in Lahore on December 6, 1990, two years after his father died.

Lara went on to play 131 matches, scoring 11,953 runs, at an average of 52.88.

Included in his tally are 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries.

His highest score of 400 not out against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground, in Antigua and Barbuda in 2004, remains the world record for an individual score in test cricket.

Lara also made 375 in a match, as well as seven double centuries.

Australian Matthew Hayden eclipsed Lara’s 375, when he made 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003, before Lara reclaimed the accolade one year later.

Lara’s 375, also made against England in 1994, broke Sir Garfield Sobers’ 365, made in 1958.

But Lara rates his 213 against Australia in the second test at the Sabina Oval in Jamaica 1999 as his best test innings.

Lara has played 299 ODIs and he has scored 10,405 runs at an average of 40.48 that included 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries.

He captained the West Indies in 2004 to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, against England at the Oval.

Lara’s first-class career began in 1987 and when it ended in 2008 he had scored 22,156 runs. His highest score was the 501 not out for Durham against Warwickshire in the English County Championship in 1994.

The 501 remains a record in first class cricket.

Before that though, Lara began to show his worth on the regional scene.

In 1984, Lara represented West Indies in Under-19 Test Cricket. In 1987, he broke the West Indies youth batting record.

In January 1988, Lara made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the Red Stripe Cup against Barbados, whose attack contained Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall. Lara made 92.

In 1990, aged 20, Lara became Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest captain, leading them to victory in the Geddes Grant Shield

Apart from representing his native Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies, Lara has turned out for the ICC World XI, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mumbai Champs, Northern Transvaal, Southern Rocks and Warwickshire.

Lara joins in the ICC Hall of Fame West Indian legends Curtly Ambrose, Joel Garner, Lance Gibbs, Gordon Greenidge, George Headley, Michael Holding, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Clyde Walcott, Courtney Walsh, Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Frank Worrell. (RT)