5 Highest Test Scores of Brian Lara

Brian Lara is one of the most elegant players of all-time. He is the only cricketer to have scored two 350+ scores in Test history and was a nightmare to bowl even for some of the world's all-time great bowlers.

Lara donned the West Indies jersey in 131 Tests and scored 11953 runs at a breath-taking average of 52.89, accompanied by 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries. He also had 9 double-centuries under his belt.

This article is dedicated to his class as we take a look at 5 of the highest scoring innings of his Test career.

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#5 221 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2001

Lara hit a double-ton against a tough Sri Lankan bowling attack

Sri Lanka hosted West Indies for a 3-Test series. The hosts won the first two series and clinched the series. In the third Test, West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. Chaminda Vaas ripped through and sent the openers back to the pavilion in no time. Lara then built two key partnerships with Sarwan and Hooper. He went on to score 221 off 354 with 23 fours and 2 sixes and the visitors posted 390.

In return, the hosts exploded for 627-9 declared, on the back of Hashan Tilakaratne's double-ton. In the second innings, Lara once again hit a century but did not get the help he deserved from the other batsmen and the West Indies ended up getting swept 3-0.

Lara and Vaas shared the Man of the Match for their heroics that entertained the Colombo crowd.

#4 226 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2005

Lara shone with a double-century

West Indies team toured Australia in 2005 for a 3-Test series. After losing first two Tests, the third Test became a mere formality. In the third Test, West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. Brett Lee ripped through the batting line up and sent the top three batsmen back to the pavilion. It was Lara who then played a quick-fire innings with wickets tumbling at the other end.

Lara hit the final double-century of his career exploding for 226 off 298 balls accompanied by 22 fours. No one apart from Lara scored a half-century that innings which talks about the significance of this innings. West Indies posted a respectable total of 405.

In return, Australia scored 425, thanks to Hussey's unbeaten 133. In the second innings, West Indies got bundled out cheaply for 204 and the hosts chased it down, sweeping the series.

#3 277 vs Australia, SCG, 1993

Lara announces his arrival in style

Australia hosted West Indies for a 5-Test series in 1993. The hosts were up 1-0 in the series after two Tests and the visitors were looking to win the third Test and level the series. In the third Test, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. The hosts scored 503-9 declared, thanks to Steve Waugh's 100.

In return, West lndies lost the openers cheaply and were in trouble at 31-2. Lara then played a scintillating knock with Richardson and added 293 runs for the third wicket to put the team in dominating position. He smashed his maiden century and did not stop as he went on to convert it to a double-ton scoring 277 off 372 accompanied by 38 fours. The visitors ended up with 606 in their first innings.

The match was drawn and Lara received the Man of the Match for his maiden double-century that saved the day for the visitors. West Indies then won the 4th and 5th Tests and clinched the series in a brilliant fashion, 2-1.

#2 375 vs England, Antigua, 1994

Lara's 375 lifted WI to 593

West Indies hosted England for a 5-Test series in 1994. The home team already clinched the series 3-1 after the fourth Test. In the fifth Test, Walsh won the toss and chose to bat first. After losing two early wickets, West Indies were left reeling at 12-2. Lara once again came to the rescue and stitched some key partnerships with the middle-order batsmen and got to his first triple-century.

He scored 375 off 538 balls with 45 fours. West Indies declared at 593-5, immediately after Lara's dismissal. The visitors then went on to score the exact same 593 in their first innings, on the back of centuries from Atherton and Smith.

The match eventually ended in a draw and it was Lara who once again took home, the Man of the Match trophy for his maiden triple-century.

#1 400* vs England, Antigua, 2004

Lara smashed a world record 400* against England

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.