View source for Brian Lara

{{Short description|Trinidadian cricketer (born 1969)}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Brian Lara
| honorific_suffix = [[Trinity Cross|TC]], [[Order of the Caribbean Community|OCC]]
| image = Brian Lara at 2012 Mumbai Marathon pre bash.jpg
| caption = Lara in 2012
| country = West Indies
| fullname = Brian Charles Lara
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=y|1969|5|2}}
| birth_place= [[Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago]]
| height = 5 ft 8 in
| role = [[Batsman]]
| family = 
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Leg spin|leg break]]
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1990–2007
| testdebutdate = 6 December
| testdebutyear = 1990
| testdebutagainst = Pakistan
| testcap = 196
| lasttestdate = 27 November
| lasttestyear = 2006
| lasttestagainst = Pakistan
| odidebutdate = 9 November
| odidebutyear = 1990
| odidebutagainst = Pakistan
| odicap = 59
| odishirt = 9
| lastodidate = 21 April
| lastodiyear = 2007
| lastodiagainst = England
| club1 = [[Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
| year1 = 1987–2008
| clubnumber1 =
| club2 = [[Northern Transvaal cricket team|Northern Transvaal]]
| year2 = 1992/93
| clubnumber2 =
| club3 = [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]]
| year3 = 1994–1998
| clubnumber3 =
| club4 = [[Southern Rocks]]
| year4 = 2010/11
| clubnumber4 =
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 131
| runs1 = 11,953
| bat avg1 = 52.88
| 100s/50s1 = 34/48
| top score1 = 400[[not out|*]]
| deliveries1 = 60
| wickets1 = –
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 164/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 299
| runs2 = 10,405
| bat avg2 = 40.48
| 100s/50s2 = 19/63
| top score2 = 169
| deliveries2 = 49
| wickets2 = 4
| bowl avg2 = 15.25
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 2/5
| catches/stumpings2 = 120/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches3 = 261
| runs3 = 22,156
| bat avg3 = 51.88
| 100s/50s3 = 65/88
| top score3 = 501[[not out|*]]
| deliveries3 = 514
| wickets3 = 4
| bowl avg3 = 104.00
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 1/1
| catches/stumpings3 = 320/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 429
| runs4 = 14,602
| bat avg4 = 39.67
| 100s/50s4 = 27/86
| top score4 = 169
| deliveries4 = 130
| wickets4 = 5
| bowl avg4 = 29.80
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 2/5
| catches/stumpings4 = 177/–
| medaltemplates = <!-- MENTION HOST NATIONS FOR TEAM SPORTS -->
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{cr|WIN}}}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Champions Trophy]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 ICC Champions Trophy|2004 England]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy|1998 Kenya]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2006 ICC Champions Trophy|2006 India]]|}}
| date= 4 February
| year = 2012
| source = http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52337.html ESPNcricinfo
}}
{{Brian Lara series}}
'''Brian Charles Lara''' (born 2 May 1969) is a Trinidadian former international [[cricket]]er,<ref name=ciprof>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52337.html |title=Player Profile: Brian Lara|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/serialisations/article3694486.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517172926/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/serialisations/article3694486.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 May 2008 |title= Genius of Brian Lara hailed by Wisden |work=The Times |location=UK | date=7 April 2008 | access-date=26 April 2010 | first=Mike | last=Atherton}}</ref> widely renowned as one of the greatest [[Batting (cricket)|batsmen]] of all time.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4472818.stm |title=Lara the best ever? | website=BBC News | first=Martin | last=Gough | date=26 November 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/268732.html |title=Lara the greatest among his peers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cricket/CricketFeatures/501-reasons-why-Lara-was-the-best/Article1-1071627.aspx |title=501 reasons why Lara the best |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028083745/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cricket/CricketFeatures/501-reasons-why-Lara-was-the-best/Article1-1071627.aspx |archive-date=28 October 2013 }}</ref> He holds several cricketing records, including the record for the highest individual score in [[first-class cricket]], with 501 not out for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] against [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] in 1994,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44632651 |title=Brian Lara's 501 not out: The day Warwickshire's West Indies legend rewrote cricket records |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/jun/04/brian-lara-unbeaten-501-25-years-on-cricket-the-spin|title=The Spin. Brian Lara's unbeaten 501, 25 years on, still looks unconquerable|first=Ali|last=Martin|newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 June 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> and the record for the highest individual score in an international Test innings, after scoring 400 not out at [[Antigua]] during the [[English cricket team in the West Indies in 2003–04|4th test against England]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/208504.html |title= Most runs in an innings |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He is nicknamed "'''The Prince of Port of Spain'''" or simply "'''The Prince'''".<ref>{{cite web |last=Burnett |first=Ian |date=8 July 2022 |title=Brian Lara, the Prince of Port of Spain |url=https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/jamaica-trinidad-60/brian-lara-the-prince-of-port-of-spain/ |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=Caribbean National Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2 May 2006 |title=The prince of Trinidad |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149106.html |access-date=28 December 2022 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Lara also held, for 18 years, the record of scoring the highest number of runs in a single over of a Test match when he scored 28 runs off an over of [[Robin Peterson]] of [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] in 2003, until his record was overtaken by [[Jasprit Bumrah]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/broad-35-runs-most-expensive-over-in-test-cricket-jasprit-bumrah-ind-vs-eng-5th-test/article38507834.ece| title = Stuart Broad bowls most expensive over in history of Test cricket - concedes 35 runs; Bumrah smashes 29 of those to set record|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 July 2022|access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref> As captain, Lara led the West Indies team to win the [[2004 ICC Champions Trophy]], the first time the team won any major ICC trophy since winning the [[1979 Cricket World Cup]].

Lara topped the [[Test cricket|Test]] batting [[LG ICC cricket ratings|rankings]] on several occasions, and his match-winning performance of 153 not out against Australia in [[Bridgetown]], [[Barbados]] in 1999 was rated by [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden]] the second-best batting performance in the history of Test cricket, next only to the 270 runs scored by Sir [[Donald Bradman]] in [[The Ashes]] Test match of 1937.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/2001/07/28/stories/07280281.htm | title=Wisden 100 hails Laxman, ignores Tendulkar | work=The Hindu | location=India | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125130652/http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/2001/07/28/stories/07280281.htm | archive-date=25 January 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] has hailed Lara as his toughest opponent among all batsmen in the world.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://in.rediff.com/wc2003/2003/feb/28muth.htm |title= Lara a tougher opponent than Tendulkar: Murali |work=Rediff.com}}</ref>

Lara was awarded the [[Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World]] awards in 1994 and 1995<ref>[[Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World]]</ref> and is also one of only three cricketers to receive the [[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]], the other two being Sir [[Garfield Sobers]] and [[Shane Warne]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7772192.stm |title= Sports Personality |publisher=BBC | date=14 December 2008 | access-date=2 January 2010}}</ref> Brian Lara was appointed honorary member of the [[Order of Australia]] on 27 November 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20091127/928/tsp-brian-lara-awarded-order-of-australi.html |title=Brian Lara awarded Order of Australia |date=27 November 2009 |publisher=Yahoo! News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130202838/http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20091127/928/tsp-brian-lara-awarded-order-of-australi.html |archive-date=30 November 2009 }}</ref> and in September 2012 he was inducted to the [[ICC Cricket Hall of Fame|ICC's Hall of Fame]] as a 2012–13 season inductee.<ref name=ICC>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22216654 |title=Lara dedicates Hall of Fame honour to father|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=16 September 2012|access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref> In 2013, Lara received Honorary Life Membership of the MCC becoming the 31st West Indian to receive the honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lords.org/press-centre/press-releases/brian-lara-accepts-honorary-life-membership-of-mcc-/|title=Brian Lara accepts Honorary Life Membership of MCC|author=lords|date=19 July 2013|access-date=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108172224/http://www.lords.org/press-centre/press-releases/brian-lara-accepts-honorary-life-membership-of-mcc-/|archive-date=8 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life==
Brian is one of eleven siblings. His father Bunty and one of his older sisters Agnes Cyrus enrolled him in the local Harvard Coaching Clinic at the age of six for weekly coaching sessions on Sundays. As a result, Lara had a very early education in correct batting technique. Lara's first school was St. Joseph's Roman Catholic primary. He then went to San Juan Secondary School, which is located on Moreau Road, Lower Santa Cruz. A year later, at fourteen years old, he moved on to [[Fatima College]] where he started his development as a promising young player under cricket coach Harry Ramdass. Aged 14, he amassed 745 runs in the schoolboys' league, with an average of 126.16 per innings, which earned him selection for the Trinidad and Tobago national under-16 team. When he was 15 years old, he played in his first West Indian under-19 youth tournament and that same year, Lara represented West Indies in Under-19 cricket.

== Cricket career ==

===Early first-class career===
[[File:Brian Lara (4610977063).jpg|thumb|right|Lara batting for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] in 1994]]
1987 was a breakthrough year for Lara, when in the West Indies Youth Championships he scored 498 runs breaking the record of 480 by [[Carl Hooper]] set the previous year.<ref>[http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Biography%5Cbio_BrianLara_captaincy.html ''The Coming Foretold''] [[The Independent]]. Retrieved 30 July 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811094615/http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Biography%5Cbio_BrianLara_captaincy.html |date=11 August 2007 }}</ref> He captained the tournament-winning [[Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]], who profited from a match-winning 116 from Lara.

In January 1988, Lara made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the [[Red Stripe Cup]] against [[Leeward Islands cricket team|Leeward Islands]].<ref name="FC-debut">{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149734.html |title=Brief but brutal |date=22 January 2008 |access-date=18 April 2020 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In his second first-class match he made 92 against a [[Barbados national cricket team|Barbados]] attack containing [[Joel Garner]] and [[Malcolm Marshall]], two greats of [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] teams.<ref name="FC-debut"/> Later in the same year, he captained the West Indies team in Australia for the Bicentennial Youth World Cup where the West Indies reached the semi-finals. Later that year, his innings of 182 as captain of the West Indies Under-23s against the [[Indian cricket team in the West Indies in 1988–89|touring Indian team]] further elevated his reputation.

His first selection for the full West Indies team followed in due course, but unfortunately coincided with the death of his father and Lara withdrew from the team. In 1989, he captained a West Indies B Team in [[Zimbabwe]] and scored 145.

In 1990, at the age of 20, Lara became Trinidad and Tobago's youngest-ever captain, leading them that season to victory in the one-day [[Geddes Grant Shield]]. It was also in 1990 that he made his belated Test debut for West Indies against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]], scoring 44 and 5. He had made his ODI debut a month earlier against Pakistan, scoring 11.

===International career===
{{see also|List of players who have scored 10,000 or more runs in One Day International cricket}}

In January 1993, Lara scored 277 versus [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in Sydney. This, his maiden Test century in his fifth Test, was the turning point of the series as West Indies won the final two Tests to win the series 2–1. Lara went on to name his daughter Sydney after scoring 277 at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]].

Lara holds several world records for high scoring. He has the highest individual score in both [[first-class cricket]] (501 [[not out]] for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] against [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] in 1994) and Test cricket (400 not out for the West Indies against [[English cricket team|England]] in 2004). Lara amassed his world record 501 in 474 minutes off only 427 balls. He hit 308 in boundaries (10 sixes and 62 fours). His partners were [[Roger Twose]] (115 partnership – 2nd wicket), [[Trevor Penney]] (314 – 3rd), [[Paul Smith (cricketer, born 1964)|Paul Smith]] (51 – 4th) and [[Keith John Piper|Keith Piper]] (322 unbroken – 5th). Earlier in that season Lara scored six centuries in seven innings while playing for Warwickshire.

[[File:BrianLaraUkexpatCropped.jpg|thumb|right|Brian Lara batting for the West Indies against [[India national cricket team|India]] at [[Kensington Oval]], [[Bridgetown]], Barbados, in 2002]]

He is the only man to have reclaimed the Test record score, having scored 375 against England in 1994, a record that stood until [[Matthew Hayden]]'s 380 against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] in 2003. His 400 not out also made him the second player (after [[Donald Bradman]]) to score two Test triple-centuries, and the second (after [[Bill Ponsford]]) to score two first-class quadruple-centuries. He has scored nine double-centuries in Test cricket, third after Bradman's twelve and [[Kumar Sangakkara]]'s eleven. As a captain, he scored five double-centuries, which is the highest by any one who is in charge. In 1995 Lara in the Test match away series against England, scored 3 centuries in three consecutive Matches which earned him the Man of the Series award. The Test Series was eventually drawn 2–2. He also held the record for the highest total number of runs in a Test career, after overtaking [[Allan Border]] in an innings of 226 played at [[Adelaide Oval]], Australia in November 2005.

Lara captained the West Indies from 1998 to 1999, when West Indies suffered their first whitewash at the hands of [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]. Following this they played [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in a four-Test series which was drawn 2–2, with Lara scoring 546 runs including three centuries and one double hundred. In the second Test at [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] he scored 213 while in the third Test he scored 153* in the second innings as West Indies chased down 311 with one wicket left. He won the Man of the Match award for both matches and was also named Man of the Series.

The [[Wisden 100]] rates Lara's 153 not out against Australia in Bridgetown in 1998–99 as the second-best innings ever after Sir Donald Bradman's 270 against England in Melbourne in 1936–37.

In 2001 Lara was named the Man of the Carlton Series in Australia with an average of 46.50, the highest average by a West Indian in that series, scoring two half centuries and one century, 116 against Australia. That same year Lara amassed 688 runs in the three match away Test series against Sri Lanka making three centuries, and one fifty—including the [[List of cricketers who have scored a double century and a century in the same Test match|double-century and a century]] in the first and second innings of the 3rd Test match at the [[Sinhalese Sports Ground]], equating to 42% of the team's runs in that series. These extraordinary performances led [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] to state that Lara was the most dangerous batsman he had ever bowled to.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/133274.html |title=Murali: 'Lara's still No. 1' |publisher=Content-uk.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>

Lara was reappointed as captain against the touring Australians in 2003, and struck 110 in his first Test match back in charge, showing a return to stellar performance. Later that season, under his captaincy, West Indies won the two match Test series against Sri Lanka 1–0 with Lara making a double-century in the First Test. In September 2004, West Indies won the [[2004 ICC Champions Trophy]] in England under his captaincy. For his performances in 2004, he was named both in the World Test XI and ODI XI by ICC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23121796|title=Rahul Dravid is the ICC's player of the year|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>

In March 2005, Lara declined selection for the West Indies team because of a dispute over his personal [[LIME (telecommunications company)|Cable & Wireless]] sponsorship deal, which clashed with the Cricket Board's main sponsor, [[Digicel]]. Six other players were involved in this dispute, including stars [[Chris Gayle]], [[Ramnaresh Sarwan]] and [[Dwayne Bravo]]. Lara said he declined selection in a stand of solidarity, when these players were dropped because of their sponsorship deals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/146390.html |title='I'm ready to play if best team is selected' – Lara |publisher=Content-uk.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> The issue was resolved after the first Test of the series against the touring [[South Africa national cricket team|South African team]].

Lara returned to the team for the second Test (and scored a huge first innings score of 196), but in the process lost his captaincy indefinitely to the newly appointed [[Shivnarine Chanderpaul]]. In the next Test, against the same opponents, he scored a 176 in the first innings. After a one-day series against South Africa, he scored his first Test century against the visiting Pakistanis in the first Test at [[Kensington Oval]], [[Bridgetown]], Barbados which the West Indies eventually won.

[[File:Brian Lara lap of honour.jpg|thumb|right|Lara during his lap of honour in his final international match, [[2007 Cricket World Cup]]]]
For his performances in 2005, he was named in the [[ICC Test Team of the Year|World Test XI]] by ICC.

On 26 April 2006 Lara was reappointed the captain of the West Indies cricket team for the third time. This followed the resignation of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had been captain for thirteen months—in which the West Indies won just one of the 14 Test matches they had competed. In May 2006, Lara led the West Indies to successful One-Day series victories against Zimbabwe and India. Lara's team played Australia in the finals of the DLF Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy where they finished runners up in both finals.

On 16 December 2006 he became the first player for the West Indies to pass 10,000 One Day International runs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Batting/BattingCareerRuns_ODI.asp?Stat=5000|title=HowSTAT! ODI Cricket – Most Career Runs|website=howstat.com}}</ref> and, along with [[Sachin Tendulkar]], one of only two players, at the time, to do so in both forms of the game. On 10 April 2007 Lara confirmed his retirement from one-day cricket post the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6543709.stm "Lara confirms one-day retirement"], ''[[BBC News]]'', 11 April 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.</ref> A few days later he announced that he would in fact be retiring from all international cricket after the tournament.<ref>Brian Gough, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6574317.stm "Legend Lara to end Windies career"], ''BBC News'', 19 April 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.</ref>

Lara played his final international game on 21 April 2007 in a [[dead rubber]] World Cup game against England. He was run out for 18 after a mix-up with Marlon Samuels; England won the game by 1 wicket. Before the end of this World Cup Glenn McGrath stated that Lara is the greatest batsman that he has ever bowled to.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/wc2007/2007/apr/28mcgrath.htm "McGrath rates Lara just ahead of Tendulkar"], ''Rediff'', 28 April 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.</ref>

===Retirement===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; width:50%;"
|-
!colspan="7"|'''Lara's results in international matches'''<ref name="Cricinfo">{{cite web|title=Statistics / / BC Lara /One-Day Internationals|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/52337.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209203410/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/52337.html?class=1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbatting|archive-date=9 December 2013}}</ref>
|-
|&nbsp;||Matches||Won||Lost||Drawn||Tied||No result
|-
|Test<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Test victories |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119022911/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dmatches%3Bresult%3D1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbatting |archive-date=19 January 2014 }}</ref> ||131||32||63||36||0||–
|-
|ODI<ref>{{cite web |title=List of ODI victories |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031110547/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dmatches%3Bresult%3D1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbatting |archive-date=31 October 2013 }}</ref> ||299||139||144||–||3||13
|}
On 19 April 2007 Lara announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket, indicating that the West Indies vs England match on 21 April 2007 would be his last international appearance.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/lara-turns-his-back-on-cricket/2007/04/20/1176697042541.html "Lara cuts his last dash"], ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 20 April 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.</ref> He was run out after a bad mixup with [[Marlon Samuels]] for 18, as England went on to win the match by one wicket.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6576083.stm ''West Indies v England''] ''[[BBC News]]''. Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref>

He announced before the 2007 Cricket World Cup that this would be his last appearance in One Day Internationals. After his last match, in the post-game presentation interview, he asked the fans, "Did I entertain?", to which he received a resounding cheer from the crowd,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/serialisations/article3694486.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517172926/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/serialisations/article3694486.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2008 |title=Genius of Brian Lara hailed by Wisden |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Mike |last=Atherton |date=7 April 2008 |access-date=22 September 2011 |location=London}}</ref> after which he went out and took his 'lap of honour' where he met and shook hands with many of the fans. Lara stated this would be his last appearance in international cricket, he has also indicated his interest in retaining some involvement in the sport.

On 23 July 2007 Lara agreed to sign for the [[Indian Cricket League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/303309.html |title=Lara signs up for new Indian league |publisher=Content-uk.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> He is the former captain of the Mumbai Champs. He volunteered to play for his home team Trinidad and Tobago during the start of 2008 domestic season, after not playing for them for the previous two years. He made his comeback a memorable one with a match winning hundred over Guyana, followed by a dismissive undefeated half-century in the second innings, scored at over two runs per ball. In the third-round game (Trinidad and Tobago got a bye in the second round).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/01/06/sports/spectacu-lara-at-the-oval/|title=Spectacu-Lara at the Oval|date=6 January 2008|publisher=Stabroek News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/carib-beer-series-2007-08-318245/trinidad-tobago-vs-guyana-318260/match-report |title=Lara blitz leads Trinidad to victory |date=8 January 2008 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Lara suffered a fractured arm against the Leeward Islands in St Maarten on 19 January, which kept him out of the ICL season. He nevertheless affirmed his commitment to returning to Twenty20 cricket,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/mcc/content/story/464785.html|title=Brian Lara maintains Twenty20 comeback plans|date=29 June 2010|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> and on 27 June 2010 appeared for the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] match against a touring Pakistan team, scoring 37 from 32 balls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/current/match/462605.html|title=Scorecard: Pakistan tour of England – tour match Marylebone Cricket Club v Pakistanis|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2012, Lara became involved with the [[Bangladesh Premier League]] team [[Chittagong Kings]] as their brand ambassador.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 October 2012 |title=Lara named brand ambassador of Chittagong Kings |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/Lara-named-brand-ambassador-of-Chittagong-Kings/article12559973.ece |url-access=limited |url-status=live |work=The Hindu |location=Dhaka |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202135512/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/Lara-named-brand-ambassador-of-Chittagong-Kings/article12559973.ece |archive-date=2 December 2020 |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref>

On the occasion of bicentennial anniversary of Lord's ground he played for the team of MCC, under the leadership of Sachin Tendulkar<ref name="insidethegames.biz">{{cite web|date=22 June 2014|title=Lara rolls back the years as Lord's Cricket Ground celebrates 200th anniversary|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1020889/lara-rolls-back-the-years-as-lord-s-cricket-ground-celebrates-200th-anniversary|access-date=6 September 2021|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref> against the Rest of World XI in a 50 over game. He went on to score a half century in an eventual win for the MCC.<ref name="insidethegames.biz"/>

===2010 return===
[[File:Brian Lara, Lord's Bicentenary Anniversary Match (2014) 04.jpg|thumb|Brian Lara bats during a warm-up for the [[Bicentenary Celebration match]] in 2014]]
After negotiations between [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] and Lara for the [[2010 Friends Provident t20]] failed to come to anything,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22581137|title=Lara lined up for Surrey comeback |date=16 April 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref> Lara declared that he still wanted to sign a contract to play [[Twenty20]] cricket.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22537230|title=Lara maintains Twenty20 comeback plans |date=26 June 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref> Late in the year he joined [[Southern Rocks]], a Zimbabwean team, to compete in the [[2010–11 Stanbic Bank 20 Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22494266|title=Rocks sign Lara, Sidebottom for T20 |date=5 November 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref> On his debut for the Rocks, and his first-ever Twenty20 match,<ref name=ciprof/> he scored a half-century, top-scoring for the Rocks with 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22491746|title=Mountaineers, Eagles open with wins |date=13 November 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref> He added 34 runs in his next two innings, but then left the competition, citing "commitments elsewhere".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22490335|title=Lara signs as Zimbabwe 'batting consultant' |date=18 November 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>

After expressing his interest to play in the 2011 fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crickblog.com/entry/lara-reiterates-interest-in-making-debut-in-ipl-4/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708203539/http://www.crickblog.com/entry/lara-reiterates-interest-in-making-debut-in-ipl-4/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2011 |title=Lara Reiterates Interest in Making Debut in IPL 4 |author=Sreelata Yellamrazu |publisher=Cric Blog |date=28 June 2010 |access-date=30 December 2010 }}</ref> and despite not having played active cricket for four years, Brian Lara still managed to attract the highest reserve price of $400,000 ahead of the IPL players' auction in early January 2011;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22485808|title=Lara, Dravid in highest price band for IPL auction
|date=21 December 2010|access-date=18 April 2020|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/gilchrist-lara-in-top-slot-for-ipl-auctions/20101221.htm|title=Gilchrist, Lara in top bracket for IPL auctions
|date=21 December 2010|access-date=30 December 2010|publisher=rediff SPORTS}}</ref> however, no franchise bought him.

In July 2014, he played for the MCC team in the [[Bicentenary Celebration match]] at [[Lord's]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MCC v Rest of the World – 5 July |url=http://www.lords.org/fixtures/fixtures-and-tickets/mcc-v-rest-of-the-world-5-july/ |work=Lord's |date=5 July 2014 |access-date=5 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707031308/http://www.lords.org/fixtures/fixtures-and-tickets/mcc-v-rest-of-the-world-5-july/ |archive-date=7 July 2014 }}</ref>

On 18 November 2016, Brian Lara signed with Newcastle C&S D5's team The Bennett Hotel Centurions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4303773/lara-signs-on-for-d5s/|title=Brian Lara signs for The Bennett Hotel D5's cricket team|author=theherald|date=20 November 2016|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320145016/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4303773/lara-signs-on-for-d5s/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Coaching===
In December 2021 Brian Lara was appointed as Batting Coach and Strategic Advisor of the [[Sunrisers Hyderabad]] team for the 2022 season of the [[Indian Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=IPL 2022: Brian Lara, Dale Steyn join Sunrisers' support staff; Tom Moody returns as coach |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2022-brian-lara-dale-steyn-join-sunrisers-hyderabad-support-staff-tom-moody-returns-as-coach-1294180 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 October 2023 |date=23 December 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Lara's father died in 1989 of a heart attack. His mother died in 2002 of cancer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/276422.html |title=ESPNcricinfo – Lee's jingle, Pup's Bingle |publisher=Content-www.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 August 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716114937/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/276422.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Barack Obama & Brian Lara in Port of Spain 4-19-09 (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|[[Barack Obama]] and Lara during the US President's tour of [[Trinidad and Tobago]] in 2009. Obama had asked to meet Lara, whom he described as the "[[Michael Jordan]] of cricket".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,100150.html|title=Thamk you, signed Barack Obama|last=Rampersad|first=Joan|date=14 May 2009|work=[[Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday]]|access-date=7 June 2009}}</ref>]]

Lara has two daughters with Trinidadian journalist and model Leasel Rovedas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://puralasetty3.wordpress.com/personal-life|title=Personal life |date=24 March 2012 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sportslibro.com/cricket/biography/brian-lara-biography-career-wife-daughters/7231|title=Brian Lara Biography|newspaper=Sports Libro|access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> Lara has dated former British lingerie model Lynnsey Ward.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/1044276.stm |title=Blonde beats Lara's defences|date=29 November 2000|access-date=30 December 2010|work=BBC Sport }}</ref>

==Honours==
In 2009, Lara was made an honorary Member of the [[Order of Australia]] (AM) for services to West Indian and Australian cricket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/lara-no-fear-in-australians-20091130-k15e.html|title=Lara: no fear in Australians|last=AAP|date=1 December 2009|work=The Age|access-date=19 April 2010|location=Melbourne}}</ref>

Lara was one of four persons to receive the highest award of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in July. Lara received an honorary doctorate from the [[University of Sheffield]] on Wednesday 10 January 2007. The ceremony took place at the Trinidad Hilton, [[Port of Spain]], Trinidad and Tobago.<ref name="shef"/>

In September 2009, Lara was inducted as an honorary lifetime member of the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gip.gov.kn/ct.asp?xItem=1640&ctNode=53&mp=6|title=Brian Lara Gets Golfing Lifetime Honor in St. Kitts|date=21 September 2009|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs St Kitts and Nevis]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722132423/http://gip.gov.kn/ct.asp?xItem=1640&ctNode=53&mp=6|archive-date=22 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=30 December 2010}}</ref>

On 29 October 2011 Lara was conferred with an honorary doctorate of laws by the [[University of the West Indies, St Augustine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/brian-lara-honoured-with-doctorate-degree-7196/|title=Brian Lara honoured with Doctorate degree|date=29 October 2011|publisher=Cricket Country|website=cricketcountry.com}}</ref>

On 14 September 2012 he was inducted to the [[ICC Cricket Hall of Fame|ICC's Hall of Fame]] at the awards ceremony held in Colombo, Sri Lanka as a 2012–13 season inductee.<ref name=ICC/>

The [[Brian Lara Stadium]], in Trinidad and Tobago, opened in 2017, was named in his honour.<ref>[https://www.msya.gov.tt/whats-happening/sport/2017-05may-15-thumbs-up-for-brian-lara-stadium "Thumbs up for Brian Lara Stadium"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107000247/https://www.msya.gov.tt/whats-happening/sport/2017-05may-15-thumbs-up-for-brian-lara-stadium |date=7 November 2018 }}, The Ministry of Sport & Youth Affairs, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 15 May 2017.</ref>

On 4 July 2019 Lara was bestowed with an honorary doctorate by the [[D Y Patil International University]] of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/honorary-doctorate-for-lara-6.2.879297.456842b2c9|title=Honorary doctorate for Lara|author=Nanton, Sampson|date=4 July 2019|publisher=Trinidad Guardian|website=guardian.co.tt}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
Lara has established the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation, which is a charitable organisation in memory of his parents that aims to address health and social care issues. He is an Ambassador for Sport of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and travels on a [[diplomatic passport]] to promote his country throughout the world.<ref name="shef">[http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2007/717.html "West Indies cricketer to receive honorary degree from UK"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606172413/http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2007/717.html |date=6 June 2011 }}, University of Sheffield. Retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>

On 7 September 2008 he took part in [[Soccer Aid]] 2008, and on 6 June 2010 in Soccer Aid 2010, playing for the Rest of the World vs a team of England celebrities and ex-pros.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/55285-soccer-aid-2008-a-real-problem-for-football|title=Soccer Aid 2008: A Real Problem For Football|author=McNair, Andrew|date=8 September 2008|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|website=bleacherreport.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.335812.727fb34ff8|title=Lara spot-on in charity match|date=6 June 2010|publisher=Trinidad Guardian|website=guardian.co.ft}}</ref> Lara was also a talented [[association football|football]] player in his youth and often played with his friends [[Dwight Yorke]], [[Shaka Hislop]] and [[Russell Latapy]] while growing up together in Trinidad.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunshine boy sees bright future |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F92A78066088D3C |access-date=23 October 2023 |work=The Sunday Times |via=Newsbank |date=11 April 1999}}</ref> Yorke, Hislop and Latapy would go on to play for [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]] at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany - Trinidad and Tobago |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2006germany/teams/43920 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref>

==Records==
{{see also|List of international cricket centuries by Brian Lara}}
[[File:Brian Lara Graph.png|right|thumb|Brian Lara's career performance graph]]

* Lara struck 277 runs against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in [[Sydney Cricket Ground|Sydney]], his maiden Test [[Century (cricket)|century]], the fourth-highest maiden Test century by any batsman,<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/HIGHEST_MAIDEN_TONS.html Highest Maiden Tons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040624234506/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/HIGHEST_MAIDEN_TONS.html |date=24 June 2004 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 July 2007.</ref> the highest individual score in all Tests between the two teams and the fourth-highest century ever recorded against Australia by any Test batsman.
* He became the first man to score seven centuries in eight [[First-class cricket|first-class]] innings, the first being the record 375 against [[English cricket team|England]] and the last being the record 501 not out against [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]].
* After [[Matthew Hayden]] had eclipsed his Test record for highest individual score 375 by five runs in 2003, he reclaimed the record scoring 400 not out in 2004 against England. With these innings he became the second player to score two Test triple-centuries, the first & only player to score two 350-plus scores in test history, the second player to score two career quadruple-centuries after [[Bill Ponsford]], the only player to achieve both these milestones, and regained the distinction of being the holder of both the record first-class individual innings and the record Test individual innings. He is the only player to break the world record twice.
* He also set the record for the highest individual test score as captain (400*)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284221.html|title=Highest test innings as captain |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>
* In the same innings, he became the second batsman to score 1,000 Test runs in five different years, four days after Matthew Hayden first set the record.
* He was the all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, a record he attained on 26 November 2005<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html Most Test Runs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040624000646/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |date=24 June 2004 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref> until surpassed by [[Sachin Tendulkar]] on 17 October 2008.
* He was the fastest batsman to score 10,000 (with [[Sachin Tendulkar]]) and 11,000 Test runs, in terms of number of innings.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_CAREER_TEST_RUNS/ Fastest Test Runs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524210617/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_CAREER_TEST_RUNS/ |date=24 May 2006 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
* He scored 34 Test centuries; joint-sixth along with [[Sunil Gavaskar]], [[Mahela Jayawardene]] and [[Younis Khan]] on the all-time list behind [[Sachin Tendulkar]] (51), [[Jacques Kallis]] (45), [[Ricky Ponting]] (41), [[Kumar Sangakkara]] (38) and [[Rahul Dravid]] (36).<ref name="List of Century makers">{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/227046.html |title=Most Test hundreds in a career |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>
** He has the most centuries for a West Indian<ref name=C1>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/LEADING_BATSMEN_TEST_100S.html Leading Test Batsmen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126043341/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/LEADING_BATSMEN_TEST_100S.html |date=26 November 2005 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
** Nine of his centuries are double-centuries (surpassed only by [[Kumar Sangakkara]] and [[Donald Bradman]])<ref name=C1/>
** Two of them are triple-centuries (matched by Australia's [[Donald Bradman]],<ref name=C1/> India's [[Virender Sehwag]], and West Indies' [[Chris Gayle]]).
** He has scored centuries against all Test-playing nations. He achieved this feat in 2005 by scoring his first Test century against Pakistan at the [[Kensington Oval]] in Bridgetown, Barbados.
* He became the sixth batsman to score a century in one session, doing so against Pakistan on 21 November 2006.<ref>[http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/100_BEFORE_LUNCH.html 100 Before Lunch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213095612/http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/100_BEFORE_LUNCH.html |date=13 December 2006 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
* Lara has scored 20% of his team runs,<ref>S. Rajesh, [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausvwi/content/story/227320.html "The Lara story in numbers"], ESPNcricinfo, 26 November 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2007</ref> a feat surpassed only by Bradman (23%) and [[George Headley]] (21%). Lara scored 688 runs (42% of team output, a record for a series of three or more Tests, and the second-highest aggregate runs in history for a three-Test series) in the 2001–02 tour of [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/HI_AGG_RUNS_IN_SERIES.html Highest Aggregate runs in series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626013545/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/HI_AGG_RUNS_IN_SERIES.html |date=26 June 2004 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
* He also scored [[List of cricketers who have scored a double century and a century in the same Test match|a century and a double-century]] in the third Test in that same Sri Lanka tour, a feat repeated only five other times in Test cricket history.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/100_EACH_INNS_TEST.html 100s in each innings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626001540/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/100_EACH_INNS_TEST.html |date=26 June 2004 }} Stats from Cric Info retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
* He has scored the most runs (351) on a losing team in a Test.
* He scored the largest proportion (53.83%) of his team's total runs in a Test when he made 221 and 130 against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2001. The previous Test record stood at 51.88% and was achieved by [[Jimmy Sinclair (cricketer)|Jimmy Sinclair]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jayaraman |first1=Shiva |last2=Seervi |first2=Bharath |title=Who has top-scored the most for their team in Tests? |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/who-has-top-scored-the-most-for-their-team-in-tests-1223054 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 April 2024 |date=21 May 2020}}</ref>
* Lara holds the world record of scoring most runs in a single [[over (cricket)|over]] (28 runs against left-arm spinner [[Robin Peterson|RJ Peterson]] of [[South African cricket team|South Africa]]) in Test cricket.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_MOST_RUNS_OVER.html Most Runs from One Over] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625003038/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_MOST_RUNS_OVER.html |date=25 June 2004 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref> He also scored 26 runs in a single over off the bowling of Danish Kaneria at [[Multan]] Cricket Stadium on 21 November 2006.
* He scored the ninth-fastest Test century, doing so off 77 balls against [[Pakistani cricket team|Pakistan]] on 21 November 2006.<ref>[http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_TEST_100S_50S.html Fastest test landmarks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320104020/http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_TEST_100S_50S.html |date=20 March 2007 }} Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 July 2007</ref>
* With 164 catches, he is the eighth-highest all-time catch-taker of non-wicketkeepers, behind [[Rahul Dravid]], [[Mahela Jayawardene]], [[Jacques Kallis]], [[Ricky Ponting]], [[Mark Waugh]], [[Stephen Fleming]] and [[Graeme Smith]].<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283548.html Test Career catches] Stats from ESPNcricinfo retrieved 30 January 2015</ref>
* In 1994, he was awarded the [[BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year|BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality]] Award. In 1995, he was chosen as one of the [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]].
* Lara had played some of his best innings in the latter stage of his career. [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|''Wisden'']] published a [[Wisden 100|top 100 list]] in July 2001, a distillation of the best performances from 1,552 Tests, 54,494 innings and 29,730 bowling performances. Three innings by Lara were placed in the top 15 (the most for any batsman in that range).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/jul/30bat100.htm |work=Cricket channel |publisher=Rediff.com |title=Top 100 Batsmen of all time}}</ref> His 153 not out in [[Bridgetown, Barbados]], during West Indies' 2–2 home series draw against Australia in *1998–1999 was deemed the second-greatest Test innings ever played, behind Bradman's 270 against England in the Third Test of the 1936–1937 series at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]].
* He was voted as second-scariest batsman to face in the "World's Scariest Batsman" poll of international bowlers.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2005/jun/16poll.htm
| title = Gilchrist most feared batsman: Poll
| date = 16 June 2005
| access-date = 27 July 2019
| publisher=[[Rediff]]
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cricket}}
* ''[[Brian Lara Cricket (series)|Brian Lara Cricket series of video games]]''
*[[Brian Lara Cricket Academy]]
{{clear}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=52337}}
* [http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerOverview.asp?PlayerID=0979 Brian Lara's Test Statistics (by HowSTAT!)]
* {{IMDb name|1675193}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of first-class cricket records#Highest individual score|Highest individual score in first-class cricket]]|years=501 not out [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58953.html Warwickshire v Durham at Birmingham 1994]}}
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{{Navboxes
|title= Captaincy 
|bg= #951A42
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{{West Indies Test Cricket Captains}}
{{West Indies ODI Cricket Captains}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Awards and Achievements 
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{{PCA Player of the Year}}
{{West Indians with 100 or more Test caps}}
{{Batsmen who have scored 10000 Runs in Test Cricket}}
{{Batsmen who have scored 10000 Runs in ODI Cricket}}
{{Batsmen with a Test batting average above 50}}
{{BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year}}
{{ICC Cricket Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= West Indies squads 
|bg= #951A42
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{{West Indies Squad 1992 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 1996 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 1999 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 2003 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 2004 ICC Champions Trophy}}
{{West Indies Squad 2007 Cricket World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lara, Brian}}
[[Category:Brian Lara| ]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1992 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1996 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2003 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Honorary members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:ICC World XI One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Northerns cricketers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Trinity Cross]]
[[Category:Southern Rocks cricketers]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago cricketers]]
[[Category:Warwickshire cricket captains]]
[[Category:Warwickshire cricketers]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate cricketers in England]]
[[Category:West Indian cricketers of 1970–71 to 1999–2000]]
[[Category:West Indian cricketers of the 21st century]]
[[Category:West Indies One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:West Indies Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year]]
[[Category:Wisden Leading Cricketers in the World]]
[[Category:World XI Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Mumbai Champs cricketers]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community]]
[[Category:People educated at Fatima College]]