Top 5 Test match centuries from Brian Lara

Not as technically sound like Sachin Tendulkar nor a pronounce puller like Ricky Ponting, Brian Charles Lara was a legend by his own rights to his league of extraordinary gentlemen. Perhaps the only player after Sir Donald Bradman to notch up gigantic individual scores consistently at the highest level, Lara holds the record for the highest individual score both in Test and first-class level.

Making his Test debut against Pakistan in 1990, the man from Trinidad went on to become one of the greatest batsmen of all time. As a starter, he had a good team to work with but during the latter half of his career the West Indies team lacked depth and penetration and he was the lone warrior in the field. On his day Lara would destroy any bowling attack and had very little respect for opposition bowlers. His scores of 501 in 1st class cricket and 400* in Test cricket remains the highlight of his glittering and illustrious career.

Here we take a look at the 5 best Test knocks of Brian Charles Lara.

#5 153 vs Australia at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (1999)

Lara pulls Shane Warne en route to his match winning 153. Arguably the best fourth innings century of all time

Steve Waugh won the toss and opted to bat. Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose troubled the top order and reduced them to 36/3 but from there on Ricky Ponting and the captain took charge of proceedings and bailed the visitors out of trouble. Steve Waugh narrowly missed on out on a double century and was dismissed for 199 as Australia was eventually bowled out for 490.

It was Sherwin Cambell’s century in the 1st innings that helped the hosts reach the score of 329, 161 runs adrift of Australia’s first innings score. It was an inspired bowling spell by Courtney Walsh that skittled out the visitors for 146 in their 2^nd innings. Walsh bagged a five-wicket haul and Ambrose and Pedro Colins chipped in with 2 wickets each.

Chasing a stiff target of 308 in the fourth innings, West Indies got off to a worst possible start and was reduced to 105/5 but what transpired next is a piece of history now. The stylish left-hander from Trinidad played the best fourth innings knock of all time and took West Indies over the line with a wicket to spare. It was a monumental effort by the legend constructing the innings with 19 fours and one six. The win enabled the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the 4 match series.

#4 226 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval (2005)

Shane Warne congratulated Brian Lara after the latter scored a magnificent double century at Adelaide

Opting to bat, the visitors were in early trouble as a fiery spell by Brett Lee reduced them to 53/3. In came Brian Lara and the whole scenario of the match changed dramatically. The southpaw started belting the Aussie bowlers all round the park and scored more than 50% of the team’s run. It was a brilliant innings under the circumstances when the second highest score in the team was 35. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 405.

Michael Hussey scored a fine century and Justin Langer missed out on a hundred by a solitary run as the hosts took a slender lead of 23 in their 1st innings.

The batting performance by the visitors in the 2nd essay was not up to standard as they were bowled out for 204. Shane Warne and Brett Lee were the wrecker in chief picking up 6 and 4 wickets respectively.

Australia chased down the target of 182 with a relative comfort with Mathew Hayden chipping in with a fluent 87.

#3 213 vs Australia at Sabina Park. Kingston, Jamaica (1999)

Lara plays a drive during his innings of 213 at Jamaica

The Australians were on the butt end of another blistering Lara innings. This time around, the Aussies won the toss and chose to bat and with the help of a century from their skipper Steve Waugh, the visitors managed to score a modest 256 in their 1st innings. Courtney Walsh and Pedro Colins chipped in with 4 and 3 wickets respectively.

The hosts went off to the worst possible start losing their first four wickets for just 34 runs. Brian Lara was there on one end but he was losing out of partners. In Jimmy Adams he found a reliable partner and the duo notched up a brilliant 322 run partnership. Lara was at his imperious best and finished with a breathtaking 213. His innings contained 29 fours and 3 gigantic sixes. The southpaw’s double century ensured the hosts took a decisive 175 run lead in the 1st innings.

Nehemiah Perry was brilliant in the 2nd essay and picked up 5 Aussie batsmen with his loopy off breaks. The Aussies were bowled out for a paltry 177 in their 2nd innings giving West Indies only 3 runs to chase in their 2nd innings. Windies won the match without losing a wicket and levelled the four-match series 1-1.

#2 375 vs England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s, Antigua (1994)

young Brian Lara plays an expansive drive during his innings of 375 against England

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat. After the early hiccups, the middle order settled in well and Lara looked in sublime touch. In a brilliant display of batsmanship. the southpaw went on to break the record for the highest individual score in Tests. He literally toyed with the English bowling line up notching up a breathtaking triple century. The score was later broken by Mathew Hayden with the former clinching it again a decade later with a quadruple century. The innings was decorated with 45 boundaries.

England also went on to score 593 in their 1st innings with Michael Atherton and Robin Smith scoring brilliant centuries. The bowlers were made to work really hard on a pitch that hardly had anything for the bowlers. England batted out 24 overs in the 2nd innings before the match was called off as a draw.

#1 400 vs England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s, Antigua (2004)

Teammates give Brian Charles Lara a guard of honour after the latter became the first individual to notch up a quadruple century in Test cricket

West Indies headed into the match already surrendering the 4 match series 3-0. The hosts won the toss and opted to bat. Coming in at no. 4 Brian Lara played an innings of his lifetime. The English bowlers were left searching for answers as the leftie went on pilings runs after runs.

He became the first cricketer in the world to score a quadruple century in Test cricket. It was a historic achievement by the Trinidadian who had surrendered the highest individual score to Mathew Hayden just a few days ago. His marathon innings included 43 fours and 4 sixes. By the time West Indies declared they had reached a gigantic score of 751/5.

The bowlers from the home team delivered for the first time in the series dismissing England for 285 in their first innings. Pedro Colins was the wrecker in chief finishing with 4/76. England was left with a huge task of batting out the last day and a half to secure a draw. The top order responded in a terrific fashion with Michael Vaughn scoring a superb 140. He was ably supported by his opening partner Marcus Trescothick with a solid 88. England eventually batted out the stipulated overs and scraped through with a draw.