Lara becomes World’s highest Test scorer

ADELAIDE—West Indies batsman Brian Lara has become the leading Test run scorer of all time, passing the 11,174 total of former Australian captain Allan Border. The 36-year-old scored his 11,175th run on the second morning of the third Test against Australia in Adelaide.He was eventually bowled by Glenn McGrath for 226 after improving the record to 11,187.
“It’s a great feeling. I have great respect for Border — I’m really happy to be up with him,” said Lara.
“I know there are the likes of Sachin (Tendulkar) and Ponting, guys who are four, five years younger than me that are definitely going to challenge the world record, or inevitably break it.
“But to be the leading run-scorer in Test cricket is momentous for me”.
Lara paid tribute to his mentor Sir Garfield Sobers, another West Indian cricket legend.
Top Test run-scorers: (1) B Lara (WI) 11,187 runs in 213 innings, (2) A Border (Aus) 11,174 runs in 265 innings, (3) S Waugh (Aus) 10,927 runs in 260 innings, (4) S Tendulkar (Ind) 10,134 runs in 198 innings, (5) S Gavaskar (Ind) 10,122 runs in 214 innings.
“At 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,” he said.
Displaced record holder Border, meanwhile, was among the first to pay tribute to Lara’s brilliance.
“I pass on my congratulations to Brian. He is a very worthy holder of the mantle of greatest run scorer in Tests,” he said.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing him play a lot of cricket and there is no doubt that he is a genuine genius.
“I’m sure I’m not the only Australian who is pleased he holds this record”.
Lara also holds records for the highest Test and first-class scores of 400 not out and 501.
His epic quadruple century against England in Antigua in April 2004 saw him become the first man to reclaim the world record, which he set at 375 in 1994 and then lost to Australian Matthew Hayden.
He now has eight double centuries in Tests, a total exceeded only by Sir Don Bradman (12), and was given a standing ovation by the Adelaide Ovel crowd when he reached 217 not out to eclipse Border’s 12-year-old record.
It is likely to be Lara’s last Test appearance on Australian soil but he has vowed to carry on as long as possible to try and help West Indies reclaim their place as one the game’s top sides.
“I’ve always said if I’m liability, I’ll take the exit door but as long as I stay an asset to West Indies cricket, stay fit and injury free, I’m going to carry on.
“I’ve had my ups and downs but I’m still here, I’m still fighting, I’m still playing”.
And he added: “The celebrations can wait - we still have 270 overs left to go in this Test and we’re still in with a chance of pulling something off here”.—Agencies