Post by missunited on Apr 20, 2007 10:05:56 GMT
From SkySports
West Indies captain Brian Lara has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the end of the World Cup.
The 37-year-old made the announcement shortly after steering the hosts to a 99-run win over Bangladesh in their penultimate game of the tournament.
Lara was already set to quit the one-day arena after Saturday's clash with England, but has now confirmed that he will give up Test match cricket as well.
The announcement means the left-hander, who made his Test and one-day debut against Pakistan back in 1990, will not be available for the tour of England in May.
"On Saturday, I'll be bidding farewell to international cricket as a player," Lara said after the Bangladesh game.
"I've already spoken to the board and my players."
"I just want to be remembered as someone who went out there and tried to entertain - it is a sport where people pay to come through the turnstiles and watch you and it is most important that someone can leave and say they have enjoyed watching Brian Lara play and enjoyed watching West Indies play.
"Another thing I am really proud of myself for is that I have been knocked down so many times as a player, as a person, and it is that strength, that I suppose comes from my parents, to be able to pick myself up each time and go out there in the face of adversity.
"That is something that I didn't read in a book or wake up in the morning with, it is deep down and it is a part of my family trait."
Lara, in what appeared a veiled slight at the West Indies cricket authorities, then went on to call for his successor to be given complete support, hinting at problems he himself had encountered.
"Whoever takes over the team, I think it is important that they get the support, what you see in the surface isn't everything," he continued.
"You have got to get the support from the very beginning and a wholehearted support from the board, from the selectors, from the team from everyone, for the captain to feel comfortable in the position."
Fittingly, he will bring the curtain down on his West Indies career against England, the country against which he has twice hit the highest individual Test score.
After his amazing knock of 375 in 1994 was surpassed by Australia opener Matthew Hayden in 2003, Lara went on to make 400 not out a decade on from his original record, and at the same venue - the Antigua Recreation Ground.
As well as the best Test score, Lara also holds the record for the highest first-class innings having made 501 not out against Durham while playing for Warwickshire.
The Trinidadian has scored 11,953 runs, hitting 34 centuries, in 131 Test appearances, finishing with an average of 52.88.
He also made over 10,000 runs in one-day action and had three spells as West Indies' captain.
West Indies captain Brian Lara has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the end of the World Cup.
The 37-year-old made the announcement shortly after steering the hosts to a 99-run win over Bangladesh in their penultimate game of the tournament.
Lara was already set to quit the one-day arena after Saturday's clash with England, but has now confirmed that he will give up Test match cricket as well.
The announcement means the left-hander, who made his Test and one-day debut against Pakistan back in 1990, will not be available for the tour of England in May.
"On Saturday, I'll be bidding farewell to international cricket as a player," Lara said after the Bangladesh game.
"I've already spoken to the board and my players."
"I just want to be remembered as someone who went out there and tried to entertain - it is a sport where people pay to come through the turnstiles and watch you and it is most important that someone can leave and say they have enjoyed watching Brian Lara play and enjoyed watching West Indies play.
"Another thing I am really proud of myself for is that I have been knocked down so many times as a player, as a person, and it is that strength, that I suppose comes from my parents, to be able to pick myself up each time and go out there in the face of adversity.
"That is something that I didn't read in a book or wake up in the morning with, it is deep down and it is a part of my family trait."
Lara, in what appeared a veiled slight at the West Indies cricket authorities, then went on to call for his successor to be given complete support, hinting at problems he himself had encountered.
"Whoever takes over the team, I think it is important that they get the support, what you see in the surface isn't everything," he continued.
"You have got to get the support from the very beginning and a wholehearted support from the board, from the selectors, from the team from everyone, for the captain to feel comfortable in the position."
Fittingly, he will bring the curtain down on his West Indies career against England, the country against which he has twice hit the highest individual Test score.
After his amazing knock of 375 in 1994 was surpassed by Australia opener Matthew Hayden in 2003, Lara went on to make 400 not out a decade on from his original record, and at the same venue - the Antigua Recreation Ground.
As well as the best Test score, Lara also holds the record for the highest first-class innings having made 501 not out against Durham while playing for Warwickshire.
The Trinidadian has scored 11,953 runs, hitting 34 centuries, in 131 Test appearances, finishing with an average of 52.88.
He also made over 10,000 runs in one-day action and had three spells as West Indies' captain.
The guys a cricketing legend 
