5 Batsmen Who Can Break Brian Lara's Record of 400 In Test Cricket

It was in the year of 2004 that the world witnessed Brian Lara amass a record score of 400 not out in Test cricket by taking a single off spin-bowler Gareth Batty in the 202nd over of West Indian innings. The crowd of the Antigua Recreation Ground stood up and applauded the Prince of Trinidad for reaching the elusive score that stands intact till date.

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While his innings of 400 received acclamation, several former and then present cricketers deemed it as a selfish one too. But one has to note that it takes an immense amount of concentration to achieve something as massive as this. A batsman needs to concentrate unprecedentedly to go past this and while many present cricketers have strolled nearby, none have gone past it.

We take a look at Five cricketers who can break the record of Brian Lara’s highest individual score in tests:

Ben Stokes:

England’s Ben Stokes had a year to remember in 2019. His career hung in the balance due to the bar fight incident back in 2015; however, it didn’t stop him from leading England to some thrilling victories after that across all formats of the game. The Kiwi-born all-rounder mustered 821 runs in 2019 with two centuries and four fifties at an average of 45.61.

The 28-year old can mould his style of the game as per the situation. For instance, in his remarkable innings of 135 in Leeds in August 2019, he scored only ten runs off the first 80 balls. Stokes rapidly increased his scoring rate to end up with 135 off 216 deliveries at a strike rate of 61.64 with 11 fours and eight sixes. Hence, if the target of 400 is in sight, Stokes can go past it with ease.

Mayank Agarwal:

Mayank Agarwal has been one of the most recent additions to Test cricket but has made rapid strides to end up as one of the best today. He was one of India’s best batsmen in their recent crushing defeat to New Zealand in Wellington and appeared technically sound than most batsmen. In the few Tests that he has played overseas, the Karnataka lad has fared well.

As far as his home record is concerned, the 29-year old has 597 runs in six innings at 99.50. In only 15 innings thus far, he has a high score of 243. With Mayank playing in the opening position, it wouldn’t be long before he scales the 300-mark and subsequently the 400-mark too.

David Warner:

In the past year, David Warner was well on track to surpass a 15-year old record at the Adelaide Oval against Pakistan when he was batting on 335. But the Australian captain Tim Paine declared the innings at that time which left the social media enraged since the tempo at which Warner was going; he could have made the record to his name. Eventually, the veteran remained unbeaten at 335 as Australia won the match and the series.

However, there is no evidence that the 33-year old would not get the opportunity to do it again. The New South Wales-born’s attacking intent from the outset gives the best chance to put himself on course to break the long-standing record. Warner has also provided a hint to quit T20I cricket that may help to prolong his Test career. It further proves that he has inadvertently given himself a second shot at eclipsing it.

Virat Kohli:

Not many thought after the England tour in 2014 that Virat Kohli would become the Test batsman that he is today. The Indian captain has improved himself significantly, so much so that he has exorcised the demons of 2014 by scoring 593 runs in England in 2018. Kohli has also performed equally well in Australia and South Africa against some world-class fast bowlers.

Of late, he has suffered a slight lean run of form. But it wouldn’t be long before the 31-year old rediscovers his touch. The Indian skipper conceded that he is batting well and it seems as if he is one big score away from getting into the groove again. Thus, he is another massive contender to surpass the 400-score mark and he rarely lets the pressure of it get to him.

Steve Smith:

Perhaps, Steve Smith is a level above the rest in the present era when it comes to Test cricket. The former Australian captain marked his return to Test cricket in style last year by almost single-handedly making the Aussies win in England. However, he had a significant hand in the visitors winning in Edgbaston and Manchester.

His average of 62.80 is only the third-highest so far in Test history and the second-best as of today. With an insatiable appetite to score runs and a yearning to bat for longer periods, the 30-year old poses the biggest threat to Lara’s record. The instability of the Australian top-order enables Smith to come in earlier, thereby boosting his chances to overtake the 400-mark.

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