The Genius Bids Adieu...

Finally the curtains were drawn, on one of the worst World Cups ever! A sad end to a sad story actually. Being an avid cricket fan, I was really disappointed at the turn of events. What was dished out on the field, was pretty ordinary.. And off the field, it was pathetic! I must give credit to the Australians though. They played some fantastic cricket all through and they were the rightful winners. (I was supporting Sri Lanka though he he) I wonder from where they got the drive, to play at such a high level in a poorly organized tournament!

The tournament did not start off well, with India and Pakistan both being packed off in the first round itself. India - thanks to some indifferent cricket, and Pakistan - due to its usual extremes when it comes to playing. The Pakistanis either play like possessed people, or they hardly play like 'people' at all! Add these to Woolmer's murder, ticket prices being exorbitant, no musical instruments allowed into the grounds (in the Windies?? U gotta be kiddin me!), sub standard cricket, a world cup spanning whole of 50 days.. And you'll realize what I mean! Anyway, lets not brag about the tournament, its over now. That was not what this post was meant for! It was the 21st of April, that triggered this post of mine. If you're still in the dark, it was Brian 'Genius' Charles Lara's adieu to cricket!

No prizes for guessing where this ball ended up!!!

I have been a Lara fan ever since I started watching cricket! Which would approx be 12 years back.. No doubt, he is still one of the most controversial players around but still the moment he stepped foot onto the cricket field, the whole world chose to ignore all of that! Thats the influence this man had on the game. His batting was pure fluent poetry in motion, of the highest honor that too! He was part of an era where he battled for the title as "Worlds Best batsman", with our own Sachin Tendulkar! The debate still goes on, and I think its fair to say that its a 50-50 call. Both were brilliant in their own ways! My heart says Sachin, but had I not been an Indian, I have a feeling that I would have vouched for Brian Lara! Some of feats can never be matched by Sachin, no doubt. His temperament was a notch higher, and Lara could bat on and on and on! Scores of 400 and 501 are testimony to this fact :) He revived a sagging West Indian cricket team, and almost single handedly made the world stand up and notice the Windies cricket team! He was more of a match winner, than Sachin was. Sachin would probably edge Lara in consistency (90's), elegance and grace. However, Style - was all Lara's! His high batlift, and that lovely bat swinging down, belting the ball, and landing the bat behind his back - wow what a sight to behold!

See what I mean????

He tortured bowlers the world over. Even the 'great' Glenn McGrath admits that the one batsmen he feared bowling to, was Lara! When on song, he could hammer u all over the park. This was something, every bowler silently knew before running in to bowl! :) Rightly called 'The Prince Of Trinidad', he was the single reason why Caribbeans turned up in large numbers every time cricket was played in the Windies! A Lara special, was foremost on their prayers whenever they flocked the stadiums to watch the cricket! A Windies win, came second! I don't think I need to say more! :)

All said n done, the glorious chapter has come to an end. We will not see that bat lift so high again! This very thought bought a tear to my eye, and thats when I was convinced that I should start blogging again. His final match was an emotional one, things dint quite go his way that match but that dint change anything one bit! He was given a rousing send off by the crowd, and tears were lining up in his eyes, for all to see! What a sad moment :( The Genius might have retired, but his legend remains forever! He'd given some of the best memories to cricket, and he'd never be forgotten!

Hail the Prince!