Photos: Brian Lara Trains With Cricket Team

October 19, 2010

Bermuda’s cricket players experienced a coaching session of a lifetime this afternoon [Oct 19], as legendary cricketer Brian Lara spent time talking and training with the team at National Stadium. Mr Lara is in Bermuda as a guest player at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, having been invited by the Premier and the Department of Tourism

Cricketers of all ages and genders came out for a chance to train with Mr Lara, who scored the only quintuple hundred in first-class cricket history.

The West Indian legend is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first class games over the course of a senior career. He retired with 11953 test runs at an average of 52.88 from 232 Test matches and 10405 ODI runs at an average of 40.48 from 299 matches.

Mr Lara spoke with various officials in attendance including Minister Michael Scott, Permanent Secretary Ellen-Kate Horton, Minister Glenn Blakeney and Minister Randy Horton, himself a former top national cricket player. Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney spoke with the cricket players first, welcoming them and Mr Lara and speaking on the importance of spirit, hard work and having pride in playing for your country.

Vice President of the Bermuda Cricket Board Mr. Allan Richardson presented Mr Lara with a Bermuda hat and shirt:

Mr Lara began by saying that he was happy to be back around cricket players, saying that golf is not exactly his forte, which drew laughs from those in attendance. He then said many people ask him what he feels his greatest accomplishment is, and how does it feel to have scored 400 runs. He said he often tells people that his greatest point of pride was having been able to represent the West Indies for so many years.

Bermuda’s National Cricket Coach David Moore had said “This is a great opportunity for cricketers and coaches of Bermuda to observe and listen to one of the world’s greatest batsman discuss how he batted throughout his illustrious career.”

Mr Lara and our local cricketers warmed up with some drills and stretches:

Mr. Lara took part in a net session where he discussed with players how he sets himself for an innings, his batting plans and how to play spin and pace bowling. He also discussed tactics that can be used in ODI and Test cricket.