Lara to play test in to his forties

[BoyBrumby]

Nope.

I mean, there's being not-as-good-as-you-once-were and being "past your best".

I don't, personally, find the two to be the same.

You're fundamanetally misunderstanding the nature of English then; they're absolutely synonymous. That isn't a cricketing debate, it's a linguistic one.

 

[Richard]

Doosra used to be a basic linguistic term, too, and right\left-handed, and throw, and a million more besides.

Many things are alterered once they come to refer to something in the game of cricket (and sometimes sport in general).

 

[BoyBrumby]

Doosra used to be a basic linguistic term, too, and right\left-handed, and throw, and a million more besides.

Many things are alterered once they come to refer to something in the game of cricket (and sometimes sport in general).

Ok, but there's clear-water between accepted usage like "Doosra" or "throw" (although right- & left-handed mean the same thing in cricket as they do elsewhere AFAICS) & what you find things to mean.

"Past his best" does not mean the same thing as "not that good anymore" but it does mean the same thing as not as good as you once were. Past his best & not as good as you once were both imply that a player has seen better days but do not suggest (as not that good anymore does) that a player isn't worthy of playing tests anymore.

 

[Richard]

I guess I probably should differentiate between "past it" and "past his best"...

 

[silentstriker]

Right, "past his best" is anyone who is not at his absolute prime, which usually only lasts 2-5 years (unless your name is Courtney Walsh). That doesn't mean they are not useful.

 

[Swervy]

Nice, hopefully though his average doesn't drop to crazy level and he doesn't get remembered as an average cricketer. The only real drawback to playing well past your prime, you legacy might not be as great. Just have to look at players like Botham who played well past his prime. His record doesn't look as good as it could have been.

as long as he is contributing to his teams performances it doesnt really matter if his average slips. He has already established himself as an alltime great.

its not about how good a record looks, its about the substance behind the record!!!!

 

[DCC_legend]

Suppose if he is still getting the odd fifty or hundred (not too odd) then he has every right to continue playing into his forties.

 

[Richard]

as long as he is contributing to his teams performances it doesnt really matter if his average slips. He has already established himself as an alltime great.

its not about how good a record looks, its about the substance behind the record!!!!

That's not true and you know it.

How many times have you argued with C_C about Botham?

 

[C_C]

This is super news.
I think Lara should be able to play into his early 40s if the talented but inconsistent batting lineup surrounding him ( potentially, Gayle-Chandrapaul,Sarwan and Lara can be a hall-of-famer batting lineup) starts to deliver.
I don't think Lara will be motivated to play for long if the team isnt going anywhere. But things are looking promising for the west indies currently and i can see them returning to top 3 status before the next world cup.
This is good news for me in more ways than one. At the end of the day, Lara and Sachin are entwined too deeply. For most of their careers they've been the two indisputed top guys but lately they've had to take a backseat. I am hoping this can turn out like a Sampras-Agassi type rivalry. They already have the greatest respect for each other and maybe they can inspire each other to greater heights. Lara needs Sachin and Sachin needs Lara.
Hopefully Lara will get to 15,000 runs and 40+ century plateau and Sachin will follow suit.

 

[Craig]

Who else would replace him?

That would be impossible boots to fill. Climbing Mt Everest would be easier.

 

[Fiery]

Who else would replace him?

That would be impossible boots to fill. Climbing Mt Everest would be easier.

Once in a generation players like him are irreplaceable really. He has earned the right to retire whenever he likes. I'm sure he'll know when the right time is...it could come from a lean trot over a period of time or simply having had enough, but his attitude at this stage of his career is tremendous really. I've often thought too many guys retire simply because they've reached a certain age and it's the done thing.

 

[pup11]

Look its upto Lara to decide that how long he wants to play because there are no players pushing him for a place in the team atm, Lara's explanation for not retiring till his 40's is that he wants to help guiding West Indian cricket back to the top.

 

[Fiery]

Look its upto Lara to decide that how long he wants to play because there are no players pushing him for a place in the team atm, Lara's explanation for not retiring till his 40's is that he wants to help guiding West Indian cricket back to the top.

Which sounds like a pretty good reason and will win him kudos. I however don't quite buy that though as Lara has always looked after No.1...but good PR spin

 

[honestbharani]

Which sounds like a pretty good reason and will win him kudos. I however don't quite buy that though as Lara has always looked after No.1...but good PR spin

except you dont know what his no.1 is....


Lara has played for his team as much as any other player has for his team and to call him selfish is just silly, at best.

 

[Fiery]

except you dont know what his no.1 is....


Lara has played for his team as much as any other player has for his team and to call him selfish is just silly, at best.

I didn't go as far as calling him "selfish" though hbh. You must admit, throughout his career he has not exactly been the quintessentially "team-player".

 

[Richard]

There have been times when he has been perceived not to be, but there's far too much in the way of selfish accusations in cricket IMO. Cricket is a game where it's difficult to be selfish in, all things considered. "Selfish" accusations, as far as I'm concerned, are rarely anything more than an attempt to get something to talk about, eg Kevin Pietersen and Jacques Kallis.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Right, "past his best" is anyone who is not at his absolute prime, which usually only lasts 2-5 years (unless your name is Courtney Walsh). That doesn't mean they are not useful.

Brian Lara had two "prime" periods though. What does that make him?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Often you need to be selfish to be successful anyway. It's just that there are different levels of it.

 

[Richard]

True, ask Nasser Hussain.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I fully expect Lara to retire as soon as he's certain that his presence in the team does more harm than good. I don't expect that to happen for another year or so at least. I don't expect Lara to play into his 40s though.