"Our (Lara)memories of yesterday will last a lifetime
We'll take the best, forget the rest
And someday we'll find these are the best of times..."

- Song "best of times" by Styx.

Another very special bitter-sweet world cup cricket 2007 occasion : West Indies legend Brian Lara has announced he will retire from all forms of international cricket after Saturday's World Cup match against England.

It’s indeed very sad for cricket fans to be saying goodbye to Lara.He’s got the chance to enjoy all that hard earned cricket reputation! I am sure that the cricket will produce many Laras to satisfy our cricket appetite. (See Lara in slide show of pics)



Ever since he started playing international cricket 17 years ago. Brian Lara has been a pillar for West Indies team and continued the legacy of West Indian great cricketing legends like Gary Sobers and Viv. Richards .West Indies team will be a much emptier place without him.

Here are quick recollection of Lara's 17 plus years of cricket career:
World Records for batting in Tests:
Highest individual innings - 400 (Against England at Antigua, St John's on 2004-04-10, 11, 12)
All-time leading run scorer - 11953

First-class cricket:
Highest individual score - 501 (501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994)

Trophies won as captain:
In September 2004, West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy in England under his captaincy.

Controversies :
In March 2005, Lara declined selection for the West Indies team because of a dispute over his personal Cable & Wireless sponsorship deal (the company locked in an ambush marketing dispute with Digicel), which clashed with the Cricket Board's main sponsor, Digicel. Six other players were involved in this dispute, including stars Christopher Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Dwayne Bravo. Lara says he declined selection in a stand of solidarity, when these players were dropped because of their sponsorship deals. The issue was resolved after the first Test of the series against the touring South African team.

World Cup Stats :

Lara played 33 world cup matches
scored 1207 runs with average of 43.10.
4 times Man of the match.
As captain won 7 lost 6 matches

Although we are saying goodbye to Lara, I don't think this will be the last we see of him in cricket. After all he’s only retiring and I am sure that one day he we will become a great cricketing coach that all cricket playing nations turning to him to use his expertise.

Let us all wish all the very best to Lara for all his future endeavors.

Labels: Cricket, farewell, lara, Retirement, West Indies

WI and Banglas both don't have chance in semis, The motivation factor for Banglas is if they win today, they might end up 6th 0r 5th position in WC.Something to take home back.This motivation showed in their excellent first bowling spell.Early Pathetic batting by WI and finest bowling by Bangladesh made WI top order score less than one or two runs per over for first twenty overs. WI looked terribly low on confidence in first twenty overs.Most runs in first overs came from wides.Samuels and Chanderpaul took too long to settle down.But duo contained wickets even when Banglas brought spinner Razak into attack during power play.Samuels is one WI player who can sensibly play against sub continental spinners.Banglas when brining in Razak should have made this observation but they have no choice as they have only two fast bowlers.

WI played like Ireland,Ireland played good to keep the wicket against Bangladesh.The experience of Sarwan and Lara helped them to steer WI to a decent total in the middle and slog overs. Sarwan may not be as good as Lara but his batting average is higher than that of Lara in ODIs.Sarwan finished the WI innings with his one more ODI brilliant knock of 91 runs off 90 balls.

Tamim failed in this match again.Sending Aftab top in the order did not help Banglas.Banglas didn't do their home work right, they have absolutely no clue how to play Collymore and Powell.Mortaza and Rahim put some resistance put WI bowling patience to test. Banglas had a mixed world cup, Two great shockers the one against India and RSA and many of harsh thrashings.

If WI beats England in next match then they will end up 5th position in the WC2007. How is WI fared so far in Super Eights ? Pathetic with huge loss margins. (see below)

* 37th Match, Super Eights: West Indies v South Africa at St George's - Apr 10, 2007 South Africa won by 67 runs. South Africa 356/4 (50 ov); West Indies 289/9 (50 ov)

* 30th Match, Super Eights: West Indies v Sri Lanka at Providence - Apr 1, 2007.Sri Lanka won by 113 runs. Sri Lanka 303/5 (50 ov); West Indies 190 (44.3 ov)

* 27th Match, Super Eights: West Indies v New Zealand at North Sound - Mar 29, 2007.New Zealand won by 7 wickets (with 64 balls remaining). West Indies 177 (44.4 ov); New Zealand 179/3 (39.2 ov)

* 25th Match, Super Eights: West Indies v Australia at North Sound - Mar 27-28, 2007.Australia won by 103 runs. Australia 322/6 (50 ov); West Indies 219 (45.3 ov)

From Gary Sobers to Viv. Richards to Lara.It is sad to see how WI cricket have transformed over years.

This is Brian Lara's last but one match.We will miss great batsman - Brain Lara,
Hope Lara does not get sentimental as Inzi in his last match with England on Saturday.

Labels: Bangladesh, Cricket, Cricket Match Review, lara, Sarwan, world cup 2007, world cup cricket

Wounded proteas shamed after loosing a match to Bangladesh by 67 runs made WI loose the match EGZATLY by 67 runs.A revenge well taken.

Defeated against South Africa, world cup dream is now unfulfilled for Brian Lara who promised his fans that he would make his exit in a blaze of glory.Yeah he is correct blazes are from South African batsman, de Villiers whose superb knock of 146 out of 130 balls eliminated hosts virtually from the world cup.To every one's guess it is impossible for team like South Africa to lose two back to back matches that would let WI to get into semis.

Now what are the chances for WI to be in for semis - In next matches South Africa loosing against New Zealand and England.It is like Indian fans praying for Banglas to loose against Bermuda.

"Sit back relax..enjoy..be a good host" is what Lara have in mind now..

This world cup proving to be doing lots of damage to Caribbean economy failing to attract crowds after Pakistan and India's early exits. What would happen to the stadiums now with WI exit?.....more and more losses to sponsors.

Labels: Cricket, lara, world cup 2007, world cup cricket