This year marks 17 years since Brian Charles Lara broke the world record for the highest Test score when he eclipsed Australia’s Matthew Hayden 380 (vs Zimbabwe, 2003) with 400 not out against England in Antigua 2004.
It was the second time Lara had broken the record after eclipsing Garfield Sobers 36-year-old record of 365 not out (against Pakistan in 1958) with 375 against England in Antigua in 1994.
Lara also holds the world record for the highest individual first-class score of 501 not outscored 27 years ago for Warwickshire vs Durham,1994. The previous 35-year-old record was 499 scored by Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammed in 1959.
While these two world records are notorious enough to measure Lara’s superb batting skills, it is worthwhile to dissect his Test records to get a greater appreciation of this phenomenal Trinbagonian and West Indian cricketer.
Lara’s Test career spanned 16 years (1990-2006). He played 131 matches, 232 innings, 6 not-outs, scored 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88 with a strike rate of 60.51 with 34 100s, 48 50s, and 164 catches.
In terms of all-time Test cricket, some of his key statistics are:
- Ranked seventh highest runs scorer (11,953) behind Sachin Tendulkar 15, 921 (200 matches); Ricky Pointing 13, 3778 (168 matches); Jacques Kallis 13,289 (166 matches); Rahul Dravid 13, 288 (164 matches); Alastair Cook 12, 472; and Kumar Sangakkara 12, 400 (134 matches).
- Tied for sixth with Younis Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, and Mahela Jayawardene for most centuries (34) behind Sachin Tendulkar 51, Jacques Kallis 45, Ricky Pointing 41, Kumar Sangakkara 38 and Rahul Dravid 36.
- Ranked third for double centuries (9) behind Don Bradman (12) and Kumar Sangakkara (9).
- Tied with Don Bradman, Christopher Gayle and Virender Sehwag for most triple centuries (2).
- Ranked 25 th in overall batting averages (52.88). Don Bradman has the highest average (99.94). In terms of West Indian batters, ranked sixth behind George Headley 60.83; Everton Weekes 58.61; Garfield Sobers 57.40; Clyde Walcott 56.80 and Charlie Davis 54.20.
- Most runs (28) scored in a Test over (466444) off Robin Peterson, WI vs South Africa 2003-04.
- Ranked third in the number of fours (1559) behind Sachin Tendulkar (2059) and Rahul Dravid (1654).
- Ranked sixth in the all-time list of sixes (88) behind Brendon McCullum (107); Adam Gilchrist (100); Chris Gayle (98); Jacques Kallis (97) and Virender Sehwag (91).
- Ranked 10 th most runs in a Test series (798) against England 1993-94.
- Second highest runs in a three-Test series (688) vs Sri Lanka 2001-02 behind Graham Gooch (752) vs England 1990.
- Most runs in a Test innings by a captain- 400 not out vs England 1994.
- Ninth in catches (164) behind Rahul Dravid (210); Mahela Jayawardene (205); Jacques Kallis (200); Ricky Pointing (196); Mark Waugh (181); Alastair Cook (175) and Stephen Fleming (171) and Graeme Smith (169).
- Among West Indian batters, Lara has the highest aggregate Test runs (11953); most centuries (34); and second highest 50s (48) behind Shivnarine Chanderpaul (66).
- He has the fourth highest runs in a Test series among West Indies batters with 798 against England, 1994. He trails Vivian Richards 829 vs England, 1976; Clyde Walcott 827 vs Australia 1955 and Garfield Sobers 824 vs Pakistan 1958.
- Third most capped West Indian after Shivnarine Chanderpaul (164) and Courtney Walsh (132).
- Third in number of times (47) captained the West Indies behind Clive Lloyd (74) and Vivian Richards (50).
It is said that form is temporary and class is permanent, Lara’s Test record is exemplary of pure CLASS! He is a living legend of cricket.
