“Yes, No…”. The non-striker responded and tried to scramble back to his crease but fell short. The disappointment on the man’s face was palpable. The crowd rose as one to salute, arguably the greatest batsman of our generation, B.C. Lara. It was sad that this man had to scramble out but in some ways quite apt that it was not a bowler who got him. 

The highest test run scorer, highest individual score, a test average over 50, over ten thousand one-day runs: none of these describe Lara adequately. Figures give a good indication of value to a team when you use the right numbers but most cricket lovers don’t really pay to watch those numbers. They crave more and that’s what Lara gave them. His batting was joyful. Very few players in the modern game bring joy to the crowd and hope to the dressing room at the same time. And despite all arguments based on numbers, thsi is what sets Lara and Sachin apart from others of their generation. They bring such beauty to the game that when you watch these two, you rise beyond partisan support and watch the game in pure, unadulterated joy.

Lara was the most destructive batsman of his era. None could tear apart the attack like he could and with such regularity, ask the Aussies, the Lankans, ask anyone. True, he had his moments of madness during the initial parts of the career: the spoilt kid who had to be disciplined. Agreed, he was not a great leader of men but as a batsman he was sheer class and it has been a joy to watch him bat over the years. Many would have wanted that he bat longer and cut the risk out of his game. But I wouldn’t trade the batsman he was for anything else.

Brian, it is true that we would have loved to see you bat another series, a few more years even but perhaps this was the time to go. We would’ve loved to see you go out with the trophy but perhaps this is an indication of the state of Windies cricket: a lack of depth in the cricketing talent, a team that couldn’t give its captain a farewell that in my opinion he deserved. This man might well be the last of the greats to emerge from the Carribbean and among the last of the men who brought joy when they wielded the bat. So, long B.C. Lara and thanks for all the wonderful cricket.

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