I Would Have Loved To See David Warner Race Towards My Record: Brian Lara
Updated - 01 Dec 2019, 07:47 PM
As David Warner was breaking records after records during his monumental knock of 335 not out against Pakistan in Adelaide, all eyes were set on the Brian Lara’s record of highest score in a Test innings. Not many players came close to breaking Lara’s record of 400 runs in a single Test innings but Warner had the chance to finally break it.
However, before he could even get close to Lara’s record, Australia captain Tim Paine sensationally decided to declare the innings. With the weather forecast in Adelaide not promising, Paine did not want to hamper his team’s chances of winning the game and thus called back Warner after he surpassed the highest Test score of Sir Don Bradman and Mark Taylor.
Brian Lara on David Warner:
A lot has been said about David Warner missing the chance to break Brian Lara’s record and now the West Indies legend has himself spoken about it. Interestingly, Lara was in Adelaide too while Warner was heading towards his record. The former West Indies skipper admitted that he was getting ready to leave for the Adelaide Oval in order to emulate one of the most iconic celebrations in cricket history.
Lara not once but twice broke the record for the highest Test score. But the first time he did it in 1994, scoring 375 agqinst England, he went passed then record-holder and West Indies legend Gary Sobers’ Test-best of 365. As soon as Lara went past 365, Sobers walked out onto the Barbados ground and personally congratulated the former on the achievement. Lara admitted that he was thinking to return similar favour to Warner in Adelaide.
“I was hoping they might catch me and get me (out) there and that was one of the reasons I was hoping they might have let him go for it,” Lara told News Corp.
“It would have been amazing to walk out there (as Sobers did). Records are made to be broken. It’s great when they are broken by attacking players. Entertainers. Being in Adelaide I would have got an opportunity to if not walk out at least meet him at this opportune time,” said Lara.
At the same time, Lara said that he understood the logic behind Australia’s declaration that they wanted to go for a win. And the decision did turn out to be fruitful as Australia are headed towards a big victory. At the end of the second day, they had reduced Pakistan to 96 for 6. On the third day, the bowled out the visitors for 302 before reducing them to 39 for 3 in the second innings. Lara also said that he would have loved to see Warner targeting his record.
“It was a great innings. I can see that Australia winning the match was the major thing and the weather was a big factor but I would have loved to have seen Australia go for it. Being here I would have loved to see it. Even if they say ‘hey David, you have got 12 overs, see if you could do it by tea time’ … it would have been great.”
“They were justified by picking up six wickets last night and you can see today things are slower so the declaration came at the right time.
“But after passing Sir Donald Bradman I would have loved to see him race towards me. I was getting dressed to come back near the end of his innings. I was listening to commentators say whether he would have a go at Matthew Hayden’s 380 but I felt if he got to 381 he would have to have a go at my record,” said Lara.
