Brian Lara Was The Toughest Batsman I Bowled Against: Shahid Afridi

Cricket or for the matter any sport has its own set of champions in every era. If we talk specifically about cricket, the 1990s saw two of the greatest batsman of all times in Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and the charismatic Brian Lara grace the field and enthrall the cricketing folklore.

And, since then, the debate has raged on as to who is the best among the duo. While India’s Sachin Tendulkar made his debut in 1989 and over the course of next 24 years went on to break and establish a plethora of records, so did Brian Lara, who made his debut in 1990 before going on to only become the first batsman to scale Mount.400 in Test cricket but also enthrall the fans with charismatic strokeplay.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, when asked about the greatest batsman he ever bowled to, had no hesitation in picking Brian Lara. Afridi said that every time he bowled to the former West Indian captain, he always felt that Lara was going to hit him for a boundary on the very next ball. Afridi further said that they never had any confidence while bowling against Lara.

“That would have to be Brian Lara. I got him out a few times but whenever I was bowling to him I always had the feeling in the back of my mind that he is going to hit me for four the next ball. He had an effect on me. I never bowled with any confidence to him.” Shahid Afridi was quoted as saying by Wisden.

Also Read: Imran Khan Was Behind The Removal of Javed Miandad From Pakistan Team In 1993: Basit Ali

Brian Lara’s footwark is what made him so special: Shahid Afridi

Lara was a murderer of spin bowling. And, what made him so good against them was his footwork, something that allowed him to dominate even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan. And, Afridi echoed the same.

Afridi further added, “He was a world-class batsman who dominated the best spinners he came up against, even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka. His footwork against spinners was brilliant and the way he batted against such bowlers was a wonderful sight. He was sheer class.”

The former West Indies captain called time on his International career post the 2007 World Cup and is one of the most respected voices in cricket today.

Also Read: Tainted Pakistan Players Should Open Grocery Stores: Rameez Raja