Lara opts out of SL ODIs

Star batsman Brian Lara has opted out of the One Day Internationals against India and Sri Lanka, on the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Stating a desire to extend his Test career by reducing the amount of ODI cricket he participates in, Lara appealed successfully to the WICB to be omitted.

Lara rested out the three One Day Internationals against Pakistan on the recently completed home stand, hinting at his desires for longevity. In statements to the press, he claimed that it is five-day cricket that he truly loves.

Brian Lara has played 256 ODI matches, scoring 9,354 runs at an average of 41.94. His runs have come at a strike rate of 79.5 and he has registered 19 hundreds and 57 fifties. No official announcement has been made as to his replacement.