Brian Charles Lara

Aaah.. That recurring question?? Who's better.. Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara...

Y'know... its just one of those questions which is gonna spark a debate regardless of the place/time/context in which it is asked....

The other day, I was just watchin' the highlights of an WI vs AUS test match held in Barbados in 1998-99 season. (Link to scorecard)
Now, Anybody who can recollect that match will tell you in one go that Lara beats Sachin hands down.....
why??? Coz Sachin, for all his greatness, hasn't played an innings like that !
Chasing 311 to win on a last day pitch, Lara scored 153* and carried the team home with just the last wicket standing... (The next best score was 38 by Jimmy (P)adams !)
It was an innings of pure class which included a memorable confrontation with McGrath. (Bouncer hit on the head, next ball pulled away for four... verbal duels in between.. u can visualize it..)
It was a kind of innings that characterizes a Hero.. a Champion Sportsman.. that one guy whom the crowd absolutely loves... that one guy whom u just love to watch play....
And Lara has played a lot of those innings.....

Sachin is a great player, a master batsman & more importantly an unmatched team player, whose commitment towards the country is unparalleled & whose determination is inspiring....
He is a pure batting genius, technically flawless.

While Lara relies purely on rhythm & flair, Sachin relies on technique & only ocassionally, his mood.
And this is where I feel the difference is.... that "mood"...
Remember that Nairobi match in 2000, when Sachin smashed McGrath in a brilliantly pre-planned attack.. Although he scored just 40 odd... it was enough to spur the team, the crowd, the fans... everyone... India beat Aus in that game & went on to reach the finals in that tournament.
This mood of his apparently shows up only once in a while.. Sharjah in 1998, more recently in the WC 2003...
But when it matters the most.. Sachin has failed to live up to the expectations... WC Finals & Lots of other finals come to mind....

This doesn't mean I'm putting lara ahead of tendulkar.. no way.... but this is just a hindsight on those what-might-have-beens...

As an ending note, try & recollect Ind vs Pak test match in 1999 in chennai... doesn't it seem strikingly similar to the WI vs AUS match above...
Only here, Sachin fell when India where tantalisingly close... Lara didn't...