ADELAIDE - Brian Lara, who became Test cricket's all-time run-getter yesterday, has once again cited the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers as an inspiration in his latest achievement.

"(Sir Garfield) is a great man and someone I have great respect for," Lara told the media after he surpassed Allan Border's 11-year-old record for the most career Test runs.

"He played 93 Test matches for West Indies and did yeoman service for them and he helped me along the way, not just in international cricket.

"I remember when I was 16 or even younger playing in the Sir Garry Sobers Tournament in Barbados, and him looking at me and saying from that day he thought I would be a Test cricketer.

"It's nice to fulfil his dream and I know he will appreciate what I have done."

Lara also paid tribute to Border, with whom he said there were some similarities.

"Looking at the newspapers today and reading what Allan Border had to say - such a humble man, a man I have great respect for," Lara said.

"He's someone who I suppose has walked the same walk I have done in many ways, in playing for Australia in the 80s and having to play that pivotal role all the time, and I'm really happy to be up there with him."

After a string of failures in the two previous Tests, Lara entered the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on 10 961 runs, still 213 adrift of Border's record and searching for an innings of merit to salvage an otherwise wretched series.

He proceeded to rack up his eighth Test double century en route to establishing a new mark of 11 187 runs in his 121st match.

"I came here to play four Test matches and I like to score 100 runs a Test match. Until Adelaide, it looked really dim but I'm really proud of it and I'm really proud to have achieved it," Lara said. (CMC)

More recently in 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

Compliments of the Nation News

Caribbean Holidays

Caribbean Accommodation

Past Glory!

As Christians around the world celebrated the ascendancy of the Prince of Peace into heaven, there were also celebrations here as the Prince of Port-of-Spain rose to cricketing heights. More info

On Easter Sunday the sheer statistical weight of his second triple hundred speaks for itself, as did his first, the unforgettable 375 at the same Antigua Recreation Ground ten years ago that was then Test cricket’s record score.

Yesterday he went to the summit of cricket becoming the first man to make a quadruple-century in a Test innings. Lara’s unconquered 400 proclaimed beyond doubt his status as the modern game’s No.1 player.

His latest act of revival, like the first, cannot mask the serious problems that confront West Indies cricket or the reasons why his team should be relying on him to save them from the indignity of a clean sweep.

But at least it has rekindled the confidence and assuaged the anguish of a depressed people. More info

SEALED WITH A KISS. West Indies captain Brian Lara kissing the ground in celebration of his record-breaking score on the third day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday.

(Picture by Brooks LaTouche Photography.)

All cricketdom arose yesterday to proclaim Brian Charles Lara as the all-conquering king of cricket.

Homage was paid to the Trinidadian left-hander for his super-human batting performance at the Antigua Recreation Ground, where he first reclaimed the record for the highest score in a Test innings and then became the first man in Test history to make a quadruple-century.

His 400 not out off 582 balls came in just under 13 hours and included 43 fours and four sixes. In doing so, he eclipsed the previous batting record of 380 established just six months ago by Australia’s Matthew Hayden.

It took the side to 752 for five declared – the second highest score in West Indies history and the highest by any country against England.

Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has praised Brian Lara’s “awesome performance” after the West Indies captain broke his batting world record on Monday.

“It doesn’t matter who the opposition is, what the count of the series is, where you’re playing - to bat that period of time is an incredible achievement.”

The press continued to praise Lara's achievements as this article from Andy Thornhill shows, compliments of the Nation News

CONGRATULATIONS LARA

PS See what Lara's llittle girl thinks about it!

All information courtesy of the Nation News.

Contributing writers Phillip Spooner, Tony Cozier and Andi Thornhill.

Photography Brooks LaTouche Photography