The Hindu : Sport : Lara drew inspiration from Soca Warriors

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Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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Lara drew inspiration from Soca Warriors

Special Correspondent

Gros Islet: Inscrutable are the ways of geniuses. What inspires them? What effect does age have?

Brian Lara, with his 120 from 307 balls (ten fours), served up more questions than he answered.

The West Indies skipper has, in the past, admitted to being inspired by watching Dravid and Laxman bat against Australia. On Wednesday, he revealed another inspiration, then spoke briefly of profound things such as destiny, and of things more profound such as the fact that he learns from his batting at age 37.

`Fitting end'

"It was a fitting end to the Test after watching the Soca Warriors battle it out on Saturday," said Lara. "Most definitely I was thinking they fought it out for 90 minutes, we have to for 98 overs. Sometimes you get a feeling - it's destiny, you know."

Geniuses are marked by the body of work they generate, and more crucially the variety within that body.

"This innings was something definitely different," said Lara. "I was still able to get a hundred in two sessions. Looking at my innings before this, I was out to rash shots. So, I just wanted to get past the first 50 or 60 balls. It was an innings I enjoyed, and an innings I learnt from.

"Yeah, it's a different mindset. My batting is attacking. I am more likely to set up matches than save them. But, I learnt a lot from my batting today. I'm not sure how many innings I've played in the past which are like this. The number of balls I played, I'd have been on 250."

Through most of Wednesday, that exhilarating back-lift ended in pretty defence — front foot beside the ball, head over it, wrists keeping it down. "Aw, that was a brilliant knock," said Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, who knows a bit about top-quality batting. "The way he sussed out conditions, adapted to them, played our spinners especially Anil (Kumble) showed why he's such a genius."

What did Lara learn from the knock? "The dedication you need as a batter. There are some situations you have to dig deep. At no point of time was I on top of the bowling. The innings you really enjoy are the ones you have to tough it out like my 153 against Australia in 1999. I enjoyed it more than my 375."

The attractive left-hander's excellence on Wednesday almost pushed to the corner his arrival at No. 3 on Monday.

Will he continue? "No. 3 is a pivotal spot. I'll be discussing it with Sars (Sarwan) and the coaching staff. It's a position that sends a message. If the pitch is difficult, the message sent is that I'll tough it out. If it's easy, you look to dictate."

Lara also made a case for sportier tracks at St. Kitts and Jamaica, saying the one here suited India, and that the only time his side was on top in the series was when it had India's batsmen on a "true Test pitch" in Antigua. On the standard of umpiring, he said, "You've got to ride decisions. It's a tough job for umpires — it's not something I'd ever want to do."

What about T&T against England? "I'd like 1-0."

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