Brian - The Magician

A couple of week back when "Team India" was going through motions and emotions against Pakistan, I just happened to switch the channel to change the flavour and have a sneak peek at a West Indies-South Africa Test Match.

The sight that awaited me was of Brian Charles Lara playing in 170s, with WI nine wickets down. It was a mouth watering prospect because I knew Lara will cut loose, and when he does that, there is rarely a better sight in Cricket these days.

In a short period of time, this magician gave a perfect display how to bat with a number eleven. He could have given VVS Laxman a complete book of lessons on running between the wickets when a tailender is there, and even otherwise.

He never curbed his shots, and hardly missed a run on the last ball making Graeme Smith chew his nails virtually to the root. In the cruel end, he missed his double century by 4 runs, but made sure it was he who got out not the tailender. Of the 24 balls partnership, Rion King faced only 5, while together scoring twenty two runs. In all, Lara took the WI score from 204 to 347 while batting with tailenders.

Ramanand writes about the fairy tale that Lara is. One can't add more to that. Don't miss even if you don't miss Cricket.