ST JOHN'S, Antigua -- Brian Lara sat alone in the pavilion at the Sydney Cricket Ground last year, knowing a silly run-out had cost him a wonderful chance to achieve the ultimate in cricket.
No matter that he had just scored 277, his first test century, against Australia. Beneath the undeniable pride lay a trace of disappointment that Sir Garfield Sobers' world record of 365 not out remained intact.
West Indies coach Rohan Kanhai, one of his country's most distinguished ex-batsmen, approached the 23-year-old Trinidadian with words which now burn with significance. "Your next innings starts at zero," Kanhai told the young left-hander. "Don't worry about it. It's gone now. You have to start all over again."
At the Recreation Ground in Antigua on Monday, the brilliant Lara proved that cricket can be a game of second chances. As he eclipsed some of the greatest names in the sport's history, even the watching Sobers could scarcely feel wronged or deprived.
After England's Graham Gooch scored 333 against India at Lord's in 1990, it seemed Sobers' 1958 record against Pakistan would be safe into the next century.
Gooch's was the first triple century in test cricket for 16 years and the predominance of fast bowlers and improved modern fielding suggested 365 would remain an almost mythical figure in the game, a monument to Sobers' unique all-round genius.
Instead, the record has fallen to the son of a Trinidadian agriculture station manager, the youngest of 11 children, whom his fellow countrymen have long referred to as "The Prince."
A classical stroke-player with boyish looks, a gregarious nature and a winning smile, Lara was a heavy scorer in schools and youth cricket before bursting onto the first-class scene.
He hit 139 in 5 1/2 hours in his debut first-class innings for the West Indies but, after securing his initial test cap in Pakistan in December 1990, the national selectors decided his development should not be rushed. Despite local newspaper outrage, it was 16 months before he played his second test against South Africa in Bridgetown, and the fateful Sydney match was only his fifth test appearance.
Any inexperience scarcely showed at the SCG. In the words of the Sydney Morning Herald, Lara, 25 next month, was so dominant he "might have been playing with a stick of celery."
"When I got to 265, I began counting down. Everyone knew the record I was looking for," said Lara at the time, reflecting on his eight-hour effort which included 38 boundaries.
"I was dreaming of this day and it's nice that it's come so early. I have put a lot of pressure on myself but I have done it before and I can do it again."
Unbeaten on 320 at the close on Sunday, he was already ?50,000 ($73,500) richer after picking up a sponsor's bonus for scoring the first double hundred of the series. He also insisted he was not tired and was particularly thrilled to have passed 291, the highest test score achieved by the great Viv Richards.
No-one doubts the young man is special. Even when Lara had his kit and money stolen at knifepoint near his home before the first test, the equipment was returned after the robbers realized their victim's identity. If it happens again, they'll simply be after his autograph.
n
The result of this final game in the five-match series, already clinched by West Indies, became of secondary interest as Lara hesitantly, nervously closed in on the 365-run record Monday.
That he fell soon after breaking the record, a tired stroke giving wicketkeeper Jack Russell a simple catch off the bowling of Caddick, was of little conseqence.
West Indies immediately declared at 593 for 5.
England was soon in trouble, but captain Mike Atherton and Robin Smith revived England's hopes of at least gaining a draw as they shared a third-wicket partnership of 115 to take their reply to 185 for 2. Atherton was then unbeaten on 63 and Smith 68. Tuesday was a rest day.
No matter that he had just scored 277, his first test century, against Australia. Beneath the undeniable pride lay a trace of disappointment that Sir Garfield Sobers' world record of 365 not out remained intact.
West Indies coach Rohan Kanhai, one of his country's most distinguished ex-batsmen, approached the 23-year-old Trinidadian with words which now burn with significance. "Your next innings starts at zero," Kanhai told the young left-hander. "Don't worry about it. It's gone now. You have to start all over again."
At the Recreation Ground in Antigua on Monday, the brilliant Lara proved that cricket can be a game of second chances. As he eclipsed some of the greatest names in the sport's history, even the watching Sobers could scarcely feel wronged or deprived.
After England's Graham Gooch scored 333 against India at Lord's in 1990, it seemed Sobers' 1958 record against Pakistan would be safe into the next century.
Gooch's was the first triple century in test cricket for 16 years and the predominance of fast bowlers and improved modern fielding suggested 365 would remain an almost mythical figure in the game, a monument to Sobers' unique all-round genius.
Instead, the record has fallen to the son of a Trinidadian agriculture station manager, the youngest of 11 children, whom his fellow countrymen have long referred to as "The Prince."
A classical stroke-player with boyish looks, a gregarious nature and a winning smile, Lara was a heavy scorer in schools and youth cricket before bursting onto the first-class scene.
He hit 139 in 5 1/2 hours in his debut first-class innings for the West Indies but, after securing his initial test cap in Pakistan in December 1990, the national selectors decided his development should not be rushed. Despite local newspaper outrage, it was 16 months before he played his second test against South Africa in Bridgetown, and the fateful Sydney match was only his fifth test appearance.
Any inexperience scarcely showed at the SCG. In the words of the Sydney Morning Herald, Lara, 25 next month, was so dominant he "might have been playing with a stick of celery."
"When I got to 265, I began counting down. Everyone knew the record I was looking for," said Lara at the time, reflecting on his eight-hour effort which included 38 boundaries.
"I was dreaming of this day and it's nice that it's come so early. I have put a lot of pressure on myself but I have done it before and I can do it again."
Unbeaten on 320 at the close on Sunday, he was already ?50,000 ($73,500) richer after picking up a sponsor's bonus for scoring the first double hundred of the series. He also insisted he was not tired and was particularly thrilled to have passed 291, the highest test score achieved by the great Viv Richards.
No-one doubts the young man is special. Even when Lara had his kit and money stolen at knifepoint near his home before the first test, the equipment was returned after the robbers realized their victim's identity. If it happens again, they'll simply be after his autograph.
n
The result of this final game in the five-match series, already clinched by West Indies, became of secondary interest as Lara hesitantly, nervously closed in on the 365-run record Monday.
That he fell soon after breaking the record, a tired stroke giving wicketkeeper Jack Russell a simple catch off the bowling of Caddick, was of little conseqence.
West Indies immediately declared at 593 for 5.
England was soon in trouble, but captain Mike Atherton and Robin Smith revived England's hopes of at least gaining a draw as they shared a third-wicket partnership of 115 to take their reply to 185 for 2. Atherton was then unbeaten on 63 and Smith 68. Tuesday was a rest day.
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