Brian Lara is known as one of the most graceful players ever. He’s the only cricketer to have scored two innings of more than 350 runs in Test matches. Even the best bowlers in the world found it hard to bowl to him.
Lara played in 131 Test matches for the West Indies. He scored 11,953 runs with an amazing average of 52.89. He hit 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries, and he also scored 9 innings where he passed 200 runs.
This article celebrates his skill by looking at 5 of his highest-scoring innings in Test cricket.
5. 221 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2001
Sri Lanka invited West Indies for a 3-match series. Sri Lanka won the first two matches and secured the series. In the third match, West Indies won the coin toss and chose to bat first. Chaminda Vaas quickly dismissed West Indies’ first two batters. Brian Lara then formed important partnerships with Ramnaresh Sarwan and Carl Hooper. Lara scored 221 runs from 354 balls with 23 fours and 2 sixes, helping West Indies reach a total of 390 runs.
In response, Sri Lanka performed outstandingly, declaring their innings at 627-9 thanks to Hashan Tilakaratne’s double-century. In the second innings, Brian Lara scored another century, but he didn’t receive enough support from his teammates. As a result, West Indies lost all three matches of the series.
Brian Lara and Chaminda Vaas were awarded the Man of the Match for their excellent performances that delighted the crowd in Colombo.
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4. 226 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2005
In 2005, the West Indies cricket team visited Australia for a 3-Test series. They lost the first two Tests, so the third Test didn’t change the outcome. West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss. Brett Lee quickly dismissed the top three batsmen. Brian Lara then played an impressive innings, scoring 226 runs from 298 balls with 22 fours. No one else on the team managed to score more than fifty runs, showing how important Lara’s innings was. West Indies finished their innings with a total of 405 runs.
Australia replied with 425 runs, with Michael Hussey scoring an unbeaten 133. In their second innings, West Indies struggled and were all out for 204 runs. Australia successfully chased down the target, winning the series without losing a match.
3. 277 vs Australia, SCG, 1993
In 1993, Australia and West Indies played a 5-Test series. After two Tests, Australia was winning 1-0. West Indies aimed to win the third Test to tie the series. Australia chose to bat first after winning the toss and scored 503-9. Steve Waugh scored 100 runs.
West Indies struggled early, losing their first two batsmen cheaply and were at 31-2. Brian Lara then played an outstanding innings with Richie Richardson, scoring 277 runs together for the third wicket. Lara’s innings included his first century and continued to 277 runs, with 38 fours. West Indies finished their innings with 606 runs.
The match ended in a draw, and Lara was named Man of the Match for his brilliant innings, which helped West Indies avoid defeat. West Indies went on to win the 4th and 5th Tests, winning the series 2-1 in an impressive comeback.
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2. 375 vs England, Antigua, 1994
In 1994, the West Indies and England played a five-game series. By the fourth game, the West Indies had already won three matches out of four. In the fifth Test, Walsh won the toss and chose for his team to bat first. The West Indies lost two early wickets and were in trouble at 12-2. Lara then came to the rescue and made good partnerships with other middle-order batsmen. He scored his first-ever 300 runs in a single innings.
Lara scored 375 runs from 538 balls, hitting 45 fours. The West Indies declared their innings closed at 593-5 right after Lara was out. England then scored the same number of runs, 593, in their first innings, with Atherton and Smith each scoring a century.
The match ended in a draw. Lara was awarded the Man of the Match trophy once again, this time for his first triple-century performance.
1. 400* vs England, Antigua, 2004
England visited West Indies for a 4-Test series. The visitors won the first three Tests, had clinched series already and the final Test was just a dead rubber. In the fourth Test, West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. Gayle was dismissed after scoring 69 runs. The other opener Ganga had an innings to forget as he was dismissed for just 10 runs.
Lara then took over and built some key partnerships with Sarwan and Jacobs to lift West Indies to a huge total of 751-5 before declaring. The Sarwan-Lara duo added 232 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed for 90. Jacobs and Lara added a 282-run partnership for the 6th wicket. Lara finished unbeaten on 400 accompanied by 43 fours and 4 sixes. He became the first player to score 400 in international Test cricket.
England in their first innings were dismissed for just 285 runs. The home team enforced the follow-on and the match was drawn with England scoring 422-5 in the second innings. Lara was awarded the Man of the Match for his world-record innings.
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