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Now all batsmen look up to Lara

This article is more than 18 years old
WI 405 all out, Australia 229 for 3

Past his best, a fading force, his heart is not in it any more - just some of the opinions offered in recent times about Brian Charles Lara. It would appear, though, that the great man was not listening. He simply refuses to be written off and now holds two of the most significant records in Test cricket

The 36-year-old West Indies batsman has surpassed Allan Border's feat to become the most prolific run-scorer in Test history. His 226 in West Indies' first innings in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide took his career total to 11,187, beating Border's mark by 13.

Lara has twice set the record for the highest individual Test score, the second time being last year, when he hit 400 not out against England.

The once-dominant West Indies have produced some of the sport's greatest batsmen, but at a time when their cricketing power has waned, Lara reigns supreme as the world's finest.

His position in the West Indies team has been questioned at times and some observers have argued that his captaincy brought only unrest among the ranks, but he has responded to his critics in emphatic style.

The elegant left-hander from Trinidad first rewrote the record books during an inspired spell in 1994, when he made a Test-record 375 against England in Antigua and followed it up with a first-class best of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham. Matthew Hayden briefly held the Test record with 380 until Lara reclaimed it with 400 not out against England last year.

After breaking Border's record, Lara said: 'It is a great feeling. 'With stuff like this, you'd like to do it in front of your home crowd, but it's special here, with Allan Border being an Australian. The reception was excellent and it's really touching to be appreciated by a country I've had great battles with throughout my career.'

Lara also revealed that West Indies legend Sir Garry Sobers had been a huge influence in his career. 'When I was just 15, he looked at me and said I'd be a Test cricketer and a good one. It's nice to have fulfilled his dream,' Lara said.

Border did not see Lara leapfrog him in the all-time Test standings - he was at his son's under-10s cricket match - but he passed on his congratulations in a statement. 'He is a very worthy holder of the mantle of the greatest run-scorer in Test history,' Border said.

'I played against Brian when he made his century in Sydney in the season of 1992-93 and I would rank him as one of the best three batsmen in the world. I have had the pleasure of seeing him play a lot of cricket and there is no doubt he is a genuine genius. I am sure I am not the only Australian who is pleased to see him hold this record.'

Lara was prevented from adding to his momentous total by Glenn McGrath, who bowled him to take West Indies, who had started the second day on 352 for seven, to 381 for eight. Shane Warne took the final wicket to end the innings before lunch at 405.

Australia comfortably reached 229 for three by the close of play. Hayden hit 47 off 58 balls and captain Ricky Ponting made 56 before both fell victim to the bowling of Dwayne Bravo.

Justin Langer was a run shy of his 23rd Test century when he was caught off a glove by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. The opener had been standing at the crease on 99 for almost four overs when he attempted a hook off the bowling of Fidel Edwards in the last over of the day.

His dismissal put the touring team in a positive frame of mind after their medium-pace bowling attack had caused little trouble for the batsmen. Australia will have high hopes, though, of overhauling their 176-run deficit and going on to complete victory and a clean sweep in the three-Test series.

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