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!
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!
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!
3 comments:
monne, i think a lot of indian cricket fans, never really enjoyed the true greatness of lara because of his competition with sachin.(hoping lara would fail). Though their rivalry was great for the game, the hype did not probably help sometimess. I still remember his 153 n.o at barbados at 3 am in the morning like it was last night. magic. catch it on youtube.
WELCOME BACK !!
A post after a LONG LONG time.
What kept you?
-PeAcE
--WiTh
---GuNs
i was so darn certain that mr ramantheb wud b da first one to comment on this post ;))
caman, bring up the underam underwear bowling.. :))
shait i just realized i have to type "baethxwj", danks to word verification ... :/
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