Brian Lara: 'Viv Richards inspired me to be the cricketer I am today'

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara on Wednesday shared a picture with a statue of veteran cricketer Vivian Richards in Antigua on Wednesday. Brain Lara said that it is Vivian Richards who inspired him to be the cricketer he is today. 

Vivian Richards exceptional career

Vivian Richards is regarded as one of the best cricketers. He took the West Indies team to new highs during the 1980s. He has scored 8,540 runs in 121 test matches and made 6,721 runs in the ODI format, including 24 centuries. Vivian Richards. Sir Richards was also voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century by a 100-member panel of experts in 2000, along with Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs and Shane Warne. 

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Brian Lara and his records

While Brian Lara announced his retirement in 2007, the player has scored 22,358 runs and 53 international centuries. Brian Lara also holds the individual record in Test Cricket when he made 400 runs against England in 2004.  He also holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, as he scored 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994.  He smashed South Africa's Robin Peterson of South Africa for 28 runs in a single over in 2003. The left-handed Lara played 131 Tests and 299 ODIs for West Indies. He managed to score 11,953 runs in the longest format of the game while he registered 10,405 runs in the 50-over format.

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Brain Lara and Sachin Tendulkar return to the field

Batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are set to return to the game with the 'Road Safety World Series' in India next year. The World Series will be an annual Twenty20 tournament played between retired cricketers from five countries - Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and India.  The charitable tournament is scheduled to be held in Mumbai between February 2 and 16 next year.

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(With ANI inputs)