Lara: This One's for Bunty

Sat, Nov 26, '05

Brian Lara is dedicating his new world batting record to a man that never saw him play Test cricket.

"My father is my number one," Lara said. "From when I was six or seven he lived vicariously through me. On many occasions we would be unhappy with each other and I thought I would head to cricket by myself. Then I would look under the palm tree and I'd see him there watching. He was there for every single match."

"Unfortunately he's never seen me play Test cricket but I know he's looking down and he'd be very happy today seeing me achieve something for the family, for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and for the West Indies."

Lara's father, Bunty, passed away the day after his son was picked to play for the West Indies senior side in 1989.

The left-hander also dedicated the record to the people of Trinidad & Tobago and tipped his cap to his mentor Sir Garfield Sobers and to Allan Border, the previous record holder.

Lara wished his runs record would inspire the political leaders in Trinidad & Tobago to put their heads together to find answers to the crime scourge and social/economic difficulties in his homeland.

"These sort of celebrations over the years have been very short-lived and we haven't seen them as something that can raise the country. We are in sort of dire straits. Hopefully we can pull ourselves out of it," Lara said.