I'll be honest, when he retired from one-day cricket I wasn't too devastated. But when I heard he was retiring from all international cricket, I started to feel sad.
In my opinion his two best moments were:
1. Carrying West Indies against Australia in 1999
Walsh and Ambrose had a good series, but I don't think it's unfair to say Lara carried the team. He carried them against the best side against the world, against McGrath bowling at his best. He was unplayable. He was completely irresistable on the field because there was nothing stopping from memorable innings after memorable innings.
2. Nullifying Murali in Sri Lanka
Murali's as about as unplayable as they come on those Sri Lankan wickets - he's a true great. For me, this was the ultimate example of how to play spin. Lara just making it impossible for Murali with his footwork. There really was nothing he could do, Lara rendered him helpless. In typical Lara fashion, only Lara could go out when he tried something reckless. But the fact that he completely mastered Murali in 2001 says something tremendous because Murali, IMO, is one of the five best bowlers ever (and a candidate for the best ever). Murali himself hasn't just said Lara was the best he ever faced, he's said Lara was BY FAR the best he ever faced. You'd never hear a player be so conclusive about greatness very often, but Murali didn't mix words.
I think the Lara we saw in those two series was as good as any batsman in history and that includes Bradman. Of course that's only two series, but he averaged in the 100s in those series and absolutely mastered his opposition. When I think of Lara I think of the word "irresistable" because at his best there was nothing you could do to resist his greatness. While I don't think he's the second best batsman ever, and have somewhat chastised him for having form lapses, I do feel it was a privelidge to have seen him play.
Well that selectorial decision would make perfect sense.
Cricket won't be the same. But surely his last inning must come in a test match!
