WEST INDIES CAPTAIN Brian Lara travelled around the world and back on Monday, as the international media reported his record setting 400 not out at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. Johns, Antigua.
In 782 minutes at the crease, Lara became the first batsman in cricketing history to score 400 runs in an individual Test innings. His marvellous knock included 43 fours and four sixes and a five, from 582 deliveries.
Ten years ago, at the same ground, he made 375 runs, smashing the previous record of 365 held by former West Indies great, Sir Garfield Sobers.
'LARA SHINES WITH FLAWED BRILLIANCE' proclaimed Reuters. Meanwhile, Sportinglife.com heralded, 'LARA CEMENTS HIS PLACE IN HISTORY'.
Even places where cricket is not played, and is scarcely understood, Brian Lara made the headlines. The Charlotte Observer, in North Carolina said:
West Indies captain Brian Lara set a cricket world record yesterday by becoming the first man to score 400 runs in an international match. The previous record of 380 runs was set by Australia's Matthew Hayden against Zimbabwe last October.
Meanwhile in the story Lightning strikes twice for Lara on the Cricinfo.com website, Lara's feat was put into even more perspective: It's one of cricket's spookier stats that both the batsmen with two Test triple-centuries to their name strutted their stuff at the same ground each time. Don Bradman at Headingley in 1930 and 1934, and Brian Lara at the Recreation Ground in St John's, Antigua.
