The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Lara's peaks

Sun, Apr 20, '14

by TONY COZIER

Commentary

It is the season of special anniversaries for two of cricket's true giants - kindred spirits, both West Indian, both left-handers.

March 30 marked the start of Sir Garry Sobers' exceptional Test career in 1954 and its end exactly 20 years later.

Last Friday was 20 years since Brian Lara's 375 against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground eclipsed Sobers' Test record score of 36 years. On June 6 that year, Lara proceeded to another unimaginable epic, 501 unbeaten for his English county Warwickshire against Durham; it remains the first-class game's distant summit.