West Indies batting nice Brian Lara has shared a humorous but humbling story from his first Take a look at match, revealing how his early interplay with Sir Vivian Richards left a long-lasting impression on him. Talking on the chat present, Lara walked down reminiscence lane and narrated a second that mirrored each the hierarchy throughout the staff and the deep respect he had for the legends of West Indies cricket.
A dream call-up turns right into a actuality examine
Lara recalled the second he obtained his Take a look at call-up for the West Indies staff and was requested to report at 9 am. He made certain to succeed in the bottom properly earlier than time, arriving at 8 am, excited to satisfy his childhood heroes. And what a welcome it was – the dressing room featured the long-lasting names of Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, and Malcolm Marshall.
“I obtained a possibility to play with him (Viv Richards). On my first Take a look at match was in Trinidad and I obtained a letter from the board, “You’re on the staff report 9 am tomorrow morning for observe”. And I obtained there at 8 am. Then the staff arrived and that is all my heroes… Viv (Viv Richards), Greenidge (Gordon Greenidge) Haynes (Desmond Haynes), Malcolm Marshall, everyone all the massive boys they usually went into the dressing room,” mentioned Lara on Keep on with Cricket.
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Why Brian Lara needed to spend 5 days in rest room?
Because the then-youngster entered the dressing room with anticipation, a shocking occasion befell. Lara revealed how his cricket bag was thrown out of the change room. He revealed that he had unknowingly positioned his bag within the spot reserved for none aside from Richards. What adopted was a lesson in staff dynamics. Lara packed his bag again up and quietly shifted to a brand new nook – which turned out to be the toilet.
“I mentioned to my brother, its time I’m going say hi there to my teammates. And whereas I used to be strolling into the dressing room, my cricket bag got here flying out the dressing room spat the whole lot simply far and wide. I picked it up, packed it again and I walked within the dressing room and the place I positioned my bag is the place Sir Vivian locations his bag. So I spent the primary 5 days of my Take a look at profession within the rest room,” added Lara.
The story displays the respect and pecking order that existed within the West Indies dressing room and serves as a reminder of the common-or-garden beginnings of even the best cricketers. Lara, who would go on to develop into one of many best batters in cricket historical past, clearly by no means forgot the place all of it started.
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