In the world of cricket, there are many stars who can be considered for the title of the Prince of Cricket. From Sachin Tendulkar to Don Bradman to Virat Kohli, the list is long.
But when it comes to true royalty, one name shines above all: Brian Lara. Hailing from Trinidad, Lara’s batting skills were like magic on the field, captivating audiences worldwide.
Breaking records and winning hearts, Lara was nicknamed the Prince of Cricket. Read on to know the cricketing journey of Brian Lara, the undisputed Prince of Cricket.
Early Life and Beginnings of Prince of Cricket
Brian Charles Lara was born on May 2, 1969, in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago. Growing up in a modest family, Lara’s love affair with cricket began at a young age.
Brian, one of eleven siblings, was enrolled in the local Harvard Coaching Clinic at six by his father and older sister. At 14, he scored 745 runs in the schoolboys’ league, averaging 126.16 per inning, leading to his selection for the Trinidad and Tobago national under-16 team. By 15, Lara participated in his first West Indian under-19 youth tournament and represented the West Indies in Under-19 cricket.
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Prince of Cricket – Batting Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 200s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| Test | 131 | 232 | 6 | 11,953 | 400 | 52.89 | 60.51 | 34 | 9 | 48 | 1,559 | 88 |
| ODI | 299 | 289 | 30 | 10,405 | 169 | 40.17 | 79.51 | 19 | 0 | 63 | 1,035 | 133 |
Rise to Prominence
His prodigious talent quickly propelled him into the national spotlight, earning him a call-up to the West Indies team in 1990. It was during his early international career that Lara showcased glimpses of his brilliance, hinting at the greatness that was yet to come.
One of the defining features of Lara’s illustrious career was his penchant for breaking records. Whether it was surpassing Sir Garfield Sobers’ longstanding record for the highest individual score in Test cricket or amassing the most runs in a single first-class innings, Lara continually pushed the boundaries. His insatiable appetite for runs and his ability to deliver under pressure cemented his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
From his international cricket debut in 1990 until his retirement in 2007, Brian Lara scored 11,953 runs in Tests and 10,405 runs in ODIs, amassing a total of 53 centuries. He surpassed 200 runs in an innings on nine occasions, a feat second only to Donald Bradman and Kumar Sangakkara.
As captain, Lara led the West Indies to victory in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, their first major ICC trophy since the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
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The 375 and 400 Not Out
Lara’s crowning moment came in 1994 when he etched his name into the record books with a breathtaking innings of 375 against England in Antigua. This monumental knock not only surpassed Sobers’ 36-year-old record for the most runs in a Test innings but also solidified Lara’s place in cricketing history. Remarkably, just a few years later, Lara would go on to break his own record by scoring 400 not out against England in 2004, a feat that remains unmatched to this day. Over 582 balls, he exhibited a masterclass in controlled aggression and technical prowess, reaffirming his status as one of cricket’s all-time greats.
Memorable Innings and Matches
Beyond his record-breaking feats, Lara’s career was filled with memorable innings and matches. Lara scored his first Test century in his fifth Test match in 1993 against Australia, with a score of 277, the fourth-highest maiden century in Test history.
His 153 not out against Australia in 1999, widely regarded as one of the greatest Test innings of all time, was a display of sheer brilliance and resilience. Chasing a daunting target, Lara single-handedly led the West Indies to a famous victory. Another unforgettable performance came in 1995 against England at the Oval, where Lara scored 179.
For 18 years, Lara also held the record for the most runs scored in a single over of a Test match, with 28 runs off an over by Robin Peterson of South Africa in 2003. This record was surpassed by Jasprit Bumrah in 2022.
His first ODI century came over two years after his debut, when he scored 128 against Pakistan. His career-best ODI score was 169 against Sri Lanka in 1995, the third-highest individual score by a West Indian batsman. In 1999, he made 117 runs against Bangladesh in just 45 balls, the fifth fastest century in ODI cricket. He finished his ODI career with 19 centuries, the second highest for a West Indian batsman, a record later surpassed by Chris Gayle.
Today, Lara’s legacy looms large over the world of cricket. His records may eventually be broken, but his influence on the game will endure for generations to come. From the streets of Trinidad to the stadiums of the world, Lara’s name remains synonymous with greatness.
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Who is the Prince of Cricket in 2024?
While Brian Lara is renowned as the original Prince of Cricket, in 2024, Shubman Gill has earned the title of the current Prince of Cricket.
Batting Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 200s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| Test | 25 | 46 | 4 | 1492 | 128 | 35.52 | 59.37 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 170 | 24 |
| ODI | 44 | 44 | 7 | 2271 | 208 | 61.38 | 103.46 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 255 | 52 |
| T20I | 14 | 14 | 1 | 335 | 126 | 25.77 | 147.58 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 16 |
| IPL | 103 | 100 | 15 | 3216 | 129 | 37.84 | 135.70 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 310 | 95 |
The youngster has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising talents in the world of cricket. Known for his elegant stroke play and calm demeanour at the crease, Gill’s batting style combines classical technique with modern aggression, making him a formidable opponent in all formats of the game.
Gill led India to the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament and was named Player of the Series.
Gill’s rise to prominence began with his stellar performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. His transition to international cricket was seamless, with memorable innings that highlighted his maturity beyond his years.
Gill made his ODI debut for India on 31 January 2019. He debuted in Test cricket on 26 December 2020, during the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, helping India secure a comeback win in the second match of the series. In the fourth Test at the Gabba, he scored 91 runs off 146 balls, playing a crucial role in India’s series victory. Gill made his T20I debut on 3 January 2023, against Sri Lanka.
Gill, the youngest player to score a double century in ODI cricket, also holds the record for the fastest to reach 2000 runs in ODIs, achieving this feat in just 38 innings. In addition, he boasts the highest T20I score by an Indian player and is one of the few Indian batters to have scored a century in all three formats of international cricket. His impressive performance in the Indian T20 League 2023 earned him the Orange Cap and he is currently the captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.Â
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Conclusion
in conclusion, Brian Lara is called the Prince of Cricket but Shubman Gill is called the current Prince of Cricket. The former legend and the youngster both deserve the title of the Prince of Cricket for their remarkable batting and performances.
