Brian Lara's form in 2003

[Craig]

IMO with the exception of 1994, this year is perhaps his best year in terms of run scoring.

He has been simply magnificant this year since last year he was struck down by that illness in Sri Lanka, had a good WC, the series against Australia in both forms of the game until now.

 

[Richard]

SuperSport put-up a revealing set of stats about Lara, I think it was this:
First 21 Tests, average 60.something
Next 45, average 39.something
Next 24, average 67.something (that will clearly have increased slightly today)
From the Sri Lanka series in 2001\02 (the series I will always call Sri Lanka v. Lara and Sarwan, though Hooper did make some score somewhere) Lara's form has been stunning, he's been much more like himself of 1993-1994. Indeed, as the stats show, he's been better.

 

[Craig]

The thing about that innings is that he was troubled by Ntini very early on and was dropped on a sitter by Pollock and looked like getting out.

But that I guess that what makes him a genius and a great player, he was able to make a century.

 

[Richard]

And yet it was only a fielding error that meant he made more than 15.
He has played brilliantly after that, on a not-always-perfect pitch, but if Pollock's hands were in a better state (or better, a more competant slipper was placed there) he'd have made 15 and no more.

 

[Neil Pickup]

And yet it was only a fielding error that meant he made more than 15.
He has played brilliantly after that, on a not-always-perfect pitch, but if Pollock's hands were in a better state (or better, a more competant slipper was placed there) he'd have made 15 and no more.

And if William Webb Ellis had been stillborn, the world would have been entirely different. "If" matters not in the past.

 

[Rik]

And yet it was only a fielding error that meant he made more than 15.
He has played brilliantly after that, on a not-always-perfect pitch, but if Pollock's hands were in a better state (or better, a more competant slipper was placed there) he'd have made 15 and no more.

All comes down to luck and misjudgement, both of which are part and parcel of cricket. He did well to take his mind off it though and carry on even when he got past 100. He's still not out.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

And yet it was only a fielding error that meant he made more than 15.
He has played brilliantly after that, on a not-always-perfect pitch, but if Pollock's hands were in a better state (or better, a more competant slipper was placed there) he'd have made 15 and no more.

A couple of things...

1/ That still does not erase what he has done in the past two years.

2/ He then scored 163 in his second innings. Don't begrudge him that.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

BC Lara
in 2003 :
9 Tests (including current)
16 innings (including current)
1232 runs
Avge: 88 (will obviously change tomorrow)
HS: 221, 191, 178*
100's: 5
50's: 5
Ducks: 0

Since SL '01:
19 Tests
32 innings
2271 runs
Avge: 75.7
HS: 221, 209, 191, 178*
100's: 8
50's: 8
Ducks: 1

Lara has publicly stated that he has rededicated himself to West Indies cricket and I have no doubt that this accounts for his success.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ricky Ponting (Last 19 Tests including current):
2265 runs (30 inns) @ 83.88
100's: 10
50's: 6
HS: 242, 206, 154
Ducks: 0

Matthew Hayden (Last 19 Tests):
1859 runs (30 inns) @ 68.85
100's: 8
50's: 3
HS: 380, 197, 177
Ducks: 1

Sachin Tendulkar (Last 19 Tests):
1288 runs (31 inns) @ 42.93
100's: 3
50's: 6
HS: 193, 176, 117
Ducks: 4

 

[luckyeddie]

And yet it was only a fielding error that meant he made more than 15.
He has played brilliantly after that, on a not-always-perfect pitch, but if Pollock's hands were in a better state (or better, a more competant slipper was placed there) he'd have made 15 and no more.

And one of the most wonderful things in the world is banging your head repeatedly against a brick wall. It feels great when you stop.

 

[luckyeddie]

And if William Webb Ellis had been stillborn, the world would have been entirely different. "If" matters not in the past.

Aussies to put money into time travel research in 5....4....3....

 

[PY]

Just because I'm English

Michael Vaughan (Last 19 Tests):
1891 runs (35 inns) @ 57.30
100's: 7
50's: 5
HS: 197, 195, 183
Ducks: 2

 

[luckyeddie]

<quack>

Rikki Clarke (Next 19 Tests):
4899 runs (22 inns) @ 4899 (run out once by Flintoff)
100's: 21
50's: 0
HS: 383*, 382*, 381*
Ducks: 1

 

[Swanny]

Laras a genius. I love watching him bat, as far as im concerned hes the most entertaning batsman on the planet. In terms of natural talent hes the best, if not the best ever. For me the best batsman in the world.

 

[Craig]

<quack>

Rikki Clarke (Next 19 Tests):
4899 runs (22 inns) @ 4899 (run out once by Flintoff)
100's: 21
50's: 0
HS: 383*, 382*, 381*
Ducks: 1

So him getting run out is when he makes a quack?

 

[royGilchrist]

And if William Webb Ellis had been stillborn, the world would have been entirely different. "If" matters not in the past.

Thanks Neil, I could not have put it better Its so frustrating when people say this kind of crap. I remember in one fo the threads someone pointed out that Gilchrist's average was high because there had been a lot dropped catches on his batting!! I just about fell out of my chair on that one I think.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I remember in one fo the threads someone pointed out that Gilchrist's average was high because there had been a lot dropped catches on his batting!! I just about fell out of my chair on that one I think.

No points to guess who said that.

 

[Mister Wright]

Ricky Ponting (Last 19 Tests including current):
2265 runs (30 inns) @ 83.88
100's: 10
50's: 6
HS: 242, 206, 154
Ducks: 0

Ducks = 1

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Nice to see that you're up to date.

 

[Richard]

No points to guess who said that.

Rik.