May 14, 2006 - West Indies predictably wrapped up another
comfortable victory over lightweight Zimbabwe in the seventh and final ODI
at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad to complete a 5-0 whitewash of the one-sided
series. Here, the champions with skipper Brian Lara (second from right,
front row) pose with their championship cheque. Picture: Brooks LaTouche
Photography
March 2006
Brian Lara is back in the runs but he did not get
the coveted century he and West Indies well-wishers were looking
for. The champion left-hander lauched an attack on the New Zealand
bowlers but fell for 83, dragging a ball from Nathan Astle into
his stumps last night
BRIAN LARA sees his future role in the West Indies team as much
as preparing the emerging, young players for the challenge of international
cricket as compiling big scores.
"The youngsters have the ability but, at the
international level, it's going to take more than ability,"
Test cricket's highest scorer and oldest contemporary player said
after West Indies' tour of New Zealand ended with the abandonment
of the rain-ruined third and final Test yesterday.
"The mental strength is important and that
is really where I feel I come in as an experienced player, someone
who has played in a winning team and now plays in a team that's
not doing too well," Lara explained.
"The mental side of the team needs to be a
lot stronger," he added. "The mental side of every individual
needs to be a lot stronger and that is where they are going to benefit."
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Trinidad Carival 2006
. West Indies batting legend Brian Lara (centre)
played mas' among Bajan revellers, including former Barbados cricket
captain Courtney Browne (right),
as Carnival 2K6 came to a rhythmic and colourful climax at Queen's
Park Savannah yesterday.
Lara headed the eighth section of Island People's
band The Enchanted Forest, which merged with the No. 7 section Illusions
led by Baje International. 'Twas truly a Bajan-Trini mas'.
(Picture by Sandy Pitt.)
Date February 05, 2006
Carnival came early for the Trinidad and Tobago cricketers
as they won the regional first-class title for the first time in 21
years, beating Barbados by 264 runs at the Carlton Club yesterday.
Superstar batsman Brian Lara led the celebrations after the match
ended, pouring champagne and beer over his teammates. The visitors
started the match needing an outright win and they achieved it to
finish level on points with Barbados. They took the trophy by virtue
of winning the head-to-head encounter. Champions Trinidad and Tobago
celebrating their capture of the Carib Beer Cup.
The Prince gave his subjects a taste
of just what class batting is. Though finishing 46 runs short of
a century, West Indies batting star Brian
Lara still made the Carlton Ground in Black Rock the place to
be.
Combining deft touches with sporadic bursts of power,
Lara was one of three players from Trinidad and Tobago who made
half-centuries, as Trinidad dominated the first day of their Carib
Beer Series match against Barbados. Lara thrilled the crowd
before a catch by Kirk Edwards, off a smashing cover drive, left
the ground abuzz. He stood his ground, eventually leaving after
umpires Tunley Franklyn and Eddie Nicholls confirmed it carried.
Date December 24, 2005 Compliments of the Nation
News
LONDON - Triple world batting record holder Brian Lara has slipped one
place down to No. 3 in the latest LG ICC World Batting Rankings released
yesterday.
The ratings, revised when the Ahmedabad third Test between Sri Lanka and
India ended Thursday, shows Australian captain Ricky Ponting climbing
one place
to the No. 2 spot, displacing the West Indies star Lara, who had another
record-breaking year - adding the all-time leading scorer label to the
individual Test (400 not out) and first-class (501 not out) world records
he already holds.
South African Jacques Kallis remains the world's No. 1 batsman and Pakistan's
captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is rated fourth, ahead of India's Rahul Dravid.
Australian Matthew Hayden is up one place to No. 6.
There is only one other West Indies batsman in the world's Top-15, Shivnarine
Chanderpaul, holding steady at 13th, while Chris Gayle (27th) and Ramnaresh
Sarwan (28th) are just inside the top 30.
Australia's veteran pacer Glenn McGrath retained the top spot in the bowling
ratings ahead of his teammate Shane Warne and the Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan.
Pacers Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) and Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) are joint
fourth and England's Andrew Flintoff moved two places up to No 6.
There are only two West Indies bowlers in the top-30, Corey Collymore,
at 21st and his Barbadian teammate Pedro Collins (28th).
WORLD RANKINGS
Batting:
1. Jacques Kallis (SA)
2. Ricky Ponting (AUS)
3. Brian Lara (WI)
4. Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK)
5. Rahul Dravid (IND)
6. Matthew Hayden (AUS)
7. Virender Sehwag (IND)
8. Marcus Trescothick (ENG)
9. Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
10. Mohammad Yousuf (PAK)
Bowling:
1. Glenn McGrath (AUS)
2. Shane Warne (AUS)
3. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
4. Shoaib Akhtar (PAK)
4. Makhaya Ntini (SA)
6. Andrew Flintoff (ENG)
7. Shaun Pollock (SA)
8. Chaminda Vaas (SL)
9. Anil Kumble (IND)
10. Irfan Pathan (IND). (CMC)
Fit for a prince
Date December 25, 2005
Brief Fit for a prince
by PHILIP SPOONER
Brian Lara might be No.3 in the world according to the International Cricket
Council's LG Test batting rankings, but he's still No.1 for many fans
around Barbados.
SUNDAY SUN caught up with the left-handed legend last
by PHILIP SPOONER
BRIAN LARA might be No.3 in the world according to the International Cricket
Council's
LG Test batting rankings, but he's still No.1 for many fans around Barbados.
SUNDAY SUN caught up with the left-handed legend last week when he was
on the west coast seeking some solitude after a hectic year of international
cricket. He did get to relax a bit, frolicking in the water with family
and friends and looking totally at ease.
When asked, he did not unveil much about his plans, but noted that he
would be spending the festive season with loved ones. He did some jogging
on the beach and went for a swim.
Being the superstar that he is, Lara could not avoid the public attention
and was mobbed by a group of fans who were seeking autographs. Lara obliged
and some fans took a keen interest in a large tattoo on his right shoulder.
He looked quite trim and noted that he was focusing on next year's international
series. The West Indies team is due to visit New Zealand in February.
They return home to face Zimbabwe and India in Tests and One-Day series
between March and July, so Lara can expect a busy first half of the year.
Lara is heavily tipped to be recalled as West Indies captain in the new
year to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Lara, who has the highest scores
in Tests (400 not out) and first-class (501 not out) cricket, along with
being Test cricket's highest run maker, received the backing of another
legend Sir Everton Weekes. However,
in a recent interview, Sir Viv Richards, a former Test captain said he
was not sure who should get the job.
