The great West Indian batsman will be making his first ever visit to the Cayman Islands on the occasion of the Quincentennial Cayman Cricket Celebration weekend, scheduled for 25th – 27th July.
“I am really excited about Lara joining us for the Cricket weekend,” says National Cricket Coach Theo Cuffy. “We’ve been trying to get him here for a long time and to have him finally come in this, our Quincentennial year, is priceless. The level of anticipation about his arrival is building and Cayman cricket fans will not be disappointed.”
Recently recapturing the title of the world’s best batsman in the PricewaterhouseCoopers ratings, Lara has had a prolific career spanning some 13 years, 8000+ runs and 96 Test Matches.
When he played the last Test match against the Australians several weeks ago in Antigua, he reached a cricketing milestone only two other West Indian greats have surpassed. Lara, like Sirs Gary Sobers and Viv Richards, crossed the 8000-run barrier during the first innings of the historic and heartwarming West Indies victory. He now stands at 8540, 372 runs ahead of Sobers and 136 behind Richards.
Lara achieved the feat during the course of a Test match he describes as his “greatest cricketing experience” when the West Indies made the largest fourth innings total ever to win a Test. He scored 68 and 60 in the two innings, both times throwing away certain centuries with reckless shots. His 68 in the first innings was the top score.
While, by the Trinidadian’s own standard, his scores in tribute to the landmark were modest, his previous ones were more befitting of the occasions. When in his 13th Test, Lara achieved 1000 Test runs, he spanked the English around Bourda in Guyana for a spellbinding 167.
Nine games later Lara touched the 2000 mark at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. While his 65 was a top score in the first innings against Australia, the West Indies captain only managed 9 in the second. Every other occasion produced a century until he conquered 8000 runs.
Another nine Tests and Lara raced on to 3000 runs in England. This time he treated himself and fans to a dazzling 179, the highest score in the match. As he did when he made the Bourda 167, he won the Man-of-the-Match award.
The next thousand runs took a bit longer than the others, spanning 14 Tests over 22 months from August 1995 to June 1997. In the first innings against Sri Lanka at Arnos Vale in St Vincent, Lara (1) barely got off the mark but returned to crash 115, again the highest individual score in the game.
Achieving 5000 runs proved a bit of a struggle as well. The left-hander spent 16 Test matches getting to the mark and when he did reach it, he mastered one of his finest innings. It was Sabina Park, Jamaica where Lara broke the 5000 hurdle during his epic 213. Again he took the Man-of-the-Match award and led his team to a 10-wicket victory over the Australians and began the turnaround of a series that was seemingly lost.
In his 73rd Test appearance at the Adelaide Oval, Lara fed on the Australian bowling he so enjoys tussling with, as he chalked up another thousand runs. Lara fashioned a match high 182 in the first innings and a top score of 39 in the second in the West Indies defeat by five wickets.
His most show-stopping celebrations though were reserved for when the world record holder tipped the 7000 figure. It was during his dream series in Sri Lanka in December of 2001. Lara slammed 221 and 130 in his 83rd Test to become only the 6th West Indian to achieve 7000 Test runs behind Richards, Sobers, Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd and Desmond Haynes.
While it took Sir Viv 121 Tests to accumulate his 8540 runs, in 25 less Tests Lara is a mere 136 runs away.
In a few months time when the West Indies take on Zimbabwe, Brian Lara should be celebrating another outstanding milestone – being the West Indian batsman with the most Test runs. We can only wait to see how he celebrates. In the meantime Cayman will get a chance to see him on their own turf.
Sponsored by Cable & Wireless, Esso, Cayman Airways, Vibe FM, Guinness and Red Stripe, Vision Marketing, Marriott Resort Grand Cayman, Cayman Screen Print, the Cayman Islands Cricket Association and the Quincentennial Celebrations Office, the Cayman Cricket Celebration weekend kicks off with a gala fundraising dinner at the Marriott Resort Grand Cayman on Friday, 25 July. Tickets for the Gala Dinner are CI$150 per person and include a four-course meal with wine, entertainment by Trinidadian comedian Paul Keens-Douglas and a chance to spend personal time with Lara and the other cricketers. There will also be a silent auction featuring signed cricket memorabilia and other unique items. Corporate tables of 10 or 12 are also available at discounted prices.
For more information about the cricket weekend, log on to www.caymancricket.com or call organizers Kelly Holding Ltd. on 946 8822.
