Viv Richards vs Brian Lara

[subshakerz]

Let's try this again, Viv never played anyone at the Warne or Murali level but he did play some the level just below: Chandra, Prassana, Qasim, Underwood, Bedi etc. He had a mixed bag of success and failures but nothing like the struggle Lara had vs Donald for example. I honestly couldn't imagine Viv in his prime going to RSA and getting owned like Lara did in 1998. The man had wayyy too much pride and self belief for that.

Lara was also owned pretty bad by the 2Ws in Pakistan in 97. I remember watching that series and Lara was really struggling to get them away.

 

[Slifer]

Lara was also owned pretty bad by the 2Ws in Pakistan in 97. I remember watching that series and Lara was really struggling to get them away.

Yeah that whole stretch from around '97 to around the '01 SL series was just a horror show. Funny thing that mixed in there were glimpses of sheer genius: '99 Frank Worrell series and the 182 vs Oz in 2000.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah that whole stretch from around '97 to around the '01 SL series was just a horror show. Funny thing that mixed in there were glimpses of sheer genius: '99 Frank Worrell series and the 182 vs Oz in 2000.

He played an important part in the 2000 series. McGrath hatrick's middle wicket and then getting set up and bowled leaving the ball by Gillespie at Melbourne (I was there crowd went nuts) .

 

[Chrish]

Lara had a difficultly against rising deliveries that were chest-high. Had seen plenty of times he was put into awkward position against short ball.

How did he go against his own bowlers? Does anyone know? He must have played against Ambrose and even some illustrious pace bowlers of previous era at the start of his domestic career..

 

[Chrish]

Lara played 16 tests against Wasim, Waqar and Donald and never scored a century against them. He averaged 43, 21, 31 and 40 in his four series against them. He also failed in his single series against Bond in NZ.

McGrath is pretty much the only ATG class pacer Lara has a good record against and even that is mixed since McGrath took his wicket 15 times.

Richards never faced his own attack but has centuries against Lillee, Imran and Hadlee and at least one mega series against each of them.

In one of those series against Donald, he had basically no support and tried to play attacking innings and got out cheaply. Donald himself has a high opinion of him. And some of those strokes are just out of this world

 

[subshakerz]

In one of those series against Donald, he had basically no support and tried to play attacking innings and got out cheaply. Donald himself has a high opinion of him. And some of those strokes are just out of this world

Funnily enough that series is when Donald downgraded Lara in his mind.

"Donald said the Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar was 'in a different class from Lara as a professional cricketer... Tendulkar is pulling away from Lara every year as the best batsman around".

Donald slams 'unprofessional' Lara

The World Cup is still nine days away but the mind games and verbal jousting have begun in earnest, with South Africa's champion speedster Allan Donald aiming his first bouncer at the West Indies captain Brian Lara.

www.google.com

 

[subshakerz]

Lara had a difficultly against rising deliveries that were chest-high. Had seen plenty of times he was put into awkward position against short ball.

You are right. I think his high back lift didn't help in that context.

 

[Chrish]

Funnily enough that series is when Donald downgraded Lara in his mind.

"Donald said the Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar was 'in a different class from Lara as a professional cricketer... Tendulkar is pulling away from Lara every year as the best batsman around".

Donald slams 'unprofessional' Lara

The World Cup is still nine days away but the mind games and verbal jousting have begun in earnest, with South Africa's champion speedster Allan Donald aiming his first bouncer at the West Indies captain Brian Lara.

www.google.com

I think there are personal reasons at play in order for Donald to make those comments; not necessarily cricketing issues. I think it has to do with this:

Did Former West Indies Cricket Star, Brian Lara, Disrespect Nelson Mandela?

The Jamaica Observer is reporting that former West Indies Cricket Board President, Pat Rousseau, is still angry at the way in which the former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was "disrespected" by batting star Brian Lara 14 years ago.

www.mnialive.com

 

[subshakerz]

I think there are personal reasons at play in order for Donald to make those comments; not necessarily cricketing issues. I think it has to do with this:

Did Former West Indies Cricket Star, Brian Lara, Disrespect Nelson Mandela?

The Jamaica Observer is reporting that former West Indies Cricket Board President, Pat Rousseau, is still angry at the way in which the former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was "disrespected" by batting star Brian Lara 14 years ago.

www.mnialive.com

I don't know. Late 90s it was pretty clear that Tendulkar had moved well ahead of Lara so Donald's statement makes sense.

 

[Chrish]

You are right. I think his high back lift didn't help in that context.

I think so but then again, Ponting had a back lift too (not as pronounced as Lara but still significant). And he was the best player of raw pace of his time.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think so but then again, Ponting had a back lift too (not as pronounced as Lara but still significant). And he was the best player of raw pace of his time.

Don't know about that but he was the best player of the short ball so obviously nothing wrong with a high backlift in that context

 

[Slifer]

Lara was one of the main instigators during the impasse right b4 the RSA series + his own personal horrid form meant that yeah I can see why Donald gave his opinions the way he did. Remember, this was also b4 Australia 99 or SL 01 . Lara ended the decaded averaging in the low 50s and Sachin almost 60 (if I can recall). BCL closed the gap post 2000 though and he also overcame a few of the ailments that afflicted him in the late 90s.

 

[subshakerz]

In one of those series against Donald, he had basically no support and tried to play attacking innings and got out cheaply. Donald himself has a high opinion of him. And some of those strokes are just out of this world

I think this clip is a perfect demonstration of why Lara struggled. His style of exciting strokeplay combined with the high backlift was simply too risky frankly to dominate a speedy pacer of high class for too long. In Pakistan in 97, against Wasim he was also dismissed playing loose strokes. Viv could probably get away with something like this approach but then he was a lot stronger than Lara and likely had better reflexes too.

Tendulkar in contrast if you look at his centuries against Donald in 96 and Wasim/Waqar in 99 was far more patient, playing straight and rarely played uppishly or pulled. A much safer approach.

 

[anil1405]

Tendulkar in contrast if you look at his centuries against Donald in 96 and Wasim/Waqar in 99 was far more patient, playing straight and rarely played uppishly or pulled. A much safer approach.

Lara trying to play more content or safe cricket would've been such a boring player and less effective.

Here is subshakerz at it again saying Lara should've had a more safe approach, Sehwag should've been more cautious and Border should've been more attacking. Love the alternate world that you live in where such things don't exist.

 

[subshakerz]

Another exciting clip of Lara vs. Bond. Can't help but think a Richards or Tendulkar would be much more secure facing this bouncer barrage. It is terrific to watch but one senses that a long enough spell and Lara will end up with a false shot somewhere.

 

[subshakerz]

Lara trying to play more content or safe cricket would've been such a boring player and less effective.

Here is subshakerz at it again saying Lara should've had a more safe approach, Sehwag should've been more cautious and Border should've been more attacking. Love the alternate world that you live in where such things don't exist.

No bro, not saying that Lara should change his approach. But that Tendulkar had a more secure approach when facing quality fastmen.

Btw Lara is my favorite batsman of all-time.

 

[Migara]

And playing pace is probably a bit more important than playing spin overall in tests

Probably it has equal importance during Lara's career. It was time the best spin stock in test cricket history was in operation. Musdhtaq, Kumble, Warne, Murali, Saqlain, Harbhajan, Herath and MacGill all were running the show then. And these guys took unprecedented number of wickets too.

 

[Migara]

Another exciting clip of Lara vs. Bond. Can't help but think a Richards or Tendulkar would be much more secure facing this bouncer barrage. It is terrific to watch but one senses that a long enough spell and Lara will end up with a false shot somewhere.

He bounces Lara alright, but between bouncers gets destroyed. Flicked a ball on middle to fine leg for four, and back cuts a ball just outside off, and square drives the next through 3rd man and deep backward point. Lara took on fast men even if he was not the best against them. Viv probably did it with the spinners. Unfortunately we don't have a good one like Murali or Warne to see whether Viv could continue in his usual way. Only bowler made him to struggle was Chandra, who was unique.

 

[Migara]

Lara was also owned pretty bad by the 2Ws in Pakistan in 97. I remember watching that series and Lara was really struggling to get them away.

Lara bossed them in 93/94 series when they were at peak though. It was Lara - Hooper - Bishop show that series.

 

[honestbharani]

Saltshakerz picking and choosing numbers to suit his biased and as usual baseless opinions. What's new.