Lara: “It may never get beaten”

The stars aligned. History was made.

“It may never get beaten,” said Brian Lara. “It was just outstanding.”

But it all could have been so different. Heading into the 1994 campaign, Manoj Prabhakar was chosen to lead the Bears attack before an injury curtailed his arrival.

Searching for options, Chief Executive Dennis Amiss was alerted to the availability of Lara, a classy left-handed bat, who was impressing against England in the Caribbean. 

Putting pen to paper ahead of the fourth Test – he made 26 and 64 – Lara’s career would change dramatically a week later, firing 375, and removing Garfield Sobers’s record Test score of 365 runs that had stood firm for 36 years.

“We got him for £40,000. A week later, it would have cost us £100,000,” joked Amiss. “Our membership trebled. I remember our operating manager Keith Cook telling me it had paid for Brian Lara three times over.”

A shrewd move it became. 

10 days later making his Bears debut against Glamorgan at Edgbaston Lara hit 147, adding another two centuries against Leicestershire next time out.

In a weather-hit game that followed, he compiled 136 at Taunton as the Bears chased down 332 in 54 overs to win on the final day against Somerset.

Starting with four straight centuries, Lara failed for the first time when he managed only 26 against Middlesex at Lord’s in the first innings, but he made 140 in the second innings. 

Word had got around. Lara was the real deal. 

After winning the toss, Durham opted to bat first and reached 365/3 on day one, before declaring on 556/8.

The visitor’s tails were up and Lara was in their sights. They even had chances, ones they didn’t take. 

Under-pressure from Durham’s attack, Lara was bowled by a no-ball and dropped by Durham keeper Chris Scott. He hadn’t even reached 20.

“With my luck, he’ll go on to get a 100,” was Scott’s famous line. He did. 111 to be exact as day two came to a close.

But Lara had some waiting. The third day was rained off and the fourth saw a break in red-ball cricket to accommodate the Sunday League. Lara made six, holing out, so it would be fair to say that no one would have expected what was to come 24 hours later.

“I told the umpire at the non-striker’s end that I was running out of form,” added Lara. “I’d scored five hundreds out of six innings and I felt it was coming to an end, but it didn’t.”

Needing another 193 to avoid the threat of a follow-on, Lara got to work. 

Extending his stand with overnight partner Trevor Penney to 314 – of which Penney made 44, he added a further 51 with Paul Smith, before being joined by Keith Piper.

The pair remained and shared an unbroken then county-record 322-run fifth-wicket stand. Piper made an impressive 116, but Lara took centre stage.

300, 350, 400, 450, the bat kept being raised. The crowd got bigger. Could the 35-year-old record of 499 set playing for Karachi by Pakistan batter Hanif Mohammed be passed?

There was intrigue. Media from all around the country flocked to Edgbaston. Ready for the big story and then…

He got hit on the helmet by John Morris. Piper was shocked. Lara shrugged it off, but he was met with some surprising news, it was the last over.

“I had a quick look around and I knew John Morris had the ball in his hand,” concluded Lara. “He was ready to deliver and I gave myself a lot of room.

“He bowled the ball at a half-volley length and I crushed it through extra cover for four. It was a bit of relief to get it over. It was shorter than scoring 375, less time, and less balls, and I felt relief at achieving such a milestone. I remember some school kids and a few invaders came onto the pitch but it was such a great time.”

Lara’s name was etched in history.

“It was a ridiculous year for me. From trying to establish yourself as an international cricketer to breaking two longstanding world records and having a season like that for Warwickshire, I mean, 1994, I would say was was my year. 

“This period, that six-week stretch between 375 and the 501 was just an unbelievable stretch for me.”