http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Bravo_destined_for_greatness__says_Lara-134476453.htmlBravo destined for greatness, says LaraBy Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Nov 24, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
Brian Lara is excited about Darren Bravo's recent success in Test cricket and believes he will become an all-time great. However, Lara has warned the 22-year-old batsman that he is now a marked man.
Bravo notched his third century in four Tests when he scored 166 against India in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Lara, a batting genius who has the highest score in Tests (400 not out) as well as the highest score in first class cricket (501 not out), was inducted into the First Citizens Sports Foundation Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Afterwards, he complimented current West Indies batsmen, Kraigg Brathwaite, Adrian Barath, Kirk Edwards and Bravo.
"It's been excellent. We haven't won any Test matches in India, but I still believe that the young players have done a great job. Number one, two, three, four—they don't even have 50 Test matches between them, but they all look very good— Brathwaite, Barath, Edwards and Bravo, of course. He seemed to go from strength to strength. It took a bit of time before he got his first hundred, but now he's had a taste of it and he's going to carry on.
"He (Bravo) will just have to keep going," Lara continued. "He's got to understand now that a lot of the opposition will start looking at him—the Australians, the English, because he's now a recognised player, and he will come under a bit of pressure. Hopefully, he has the maturity to come out of it."
While delivering the feature address at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, former West Indies fast bowler Wes Hall predicted phenomenal success for the young Trinidad and Tobago batsman.
"Darren Bravo," Hall declared, "will be the next great West Indian batsman that will gladden our hearts. I know that they said he looks and plays like Lara. Lara has done great things. He's the only man in the world that has scored a hundred, 200, 300, 400 and 500 runs in a cricket match. I am saying to you that Darren Bravo will be the next great West Indian batsman, and I think if he remains healthy throughout his career, could actually eclipse those records that we hold so dear."
Lara concurred.
"I believe what Wes Hall said. He's going to be one of the great players."
While Lara is pleased with Bravo's progress, he is disheartened about the state of West Indies cricket.
"I still believe that the infrastructure for our cricket is very poor, and there's nothing to build on. I still believe that what we're seeing out in the middle is raw talent. I don't believe they're getting what is necessary to harness their talent to make it something on a world stage on a consistent level that we're going to be very proud of.
"You're seeing some of the best young players in the world," Lara continued. "Three, four years from now, hopefully they're still holding up under the pressure, because it's a pressure situation. You're playing cricket, you're not winning, you've got to make a career for yourself at the same time. Until I see a few things done, administration and infrastructure-wise, I still believe we're going to have those sporadic performances where we're going to beat the best in the world, but it's not going to be on a consistent basis."