The West Indies would have been clever to draft legend Brian Lara into their injury-hit aspect in Adelaide after the 53-year-old confirmed he’s nonetheless received it in a priceless internet session with Rashid Khan.
Lara performed his final Test match 16 years in the past in 2006, however he confirmed in opposition to the Afghanistan and Strikers spinner that hasn’t misplaced any of the ability that noticed him blast 11,953 runs in 131 Tests at a mean of 52.88.
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A large crowd converged on the nets at Adelaide Oval throughout the dinner break on day three to observe Lara tackle Khan and nobody knew fairly what to anticipate.
One of the perfect spin bowlers on the earth at the moment taking over one of many biggest batsman ever, now in his fifties, however trying as match as he did when he performed.
“Welcome to a world first on the Big Break with a massive crowd in attendance,” Mark Howard stated on Fox Cricket.
“They have come out the back. The beers are here. The kids are here and they are here to see one thing and one thing only.
“I present to you in the grey corner, a man that has made 400. A man that has made 500 and now at 53 years of age, Brian Charles Lara.
“He is going head to head with the No.1 Twenty20 spinner in the world. The wizard from Afghanistan Rashid Khan.
“We will start with you Brian, who do you think was the quickest wrist spinner you played?”
“I think it would be Anil Kumble,” Lara replied.
“No flight and I found it pretty difficult, so I’m looking forward to facing Rashid.
“I’ve been thinking about it all morning. I got up at about 5 o’clock and I thought, how am I going to handle this today?”
“You are taking on Rashid Khan the hero of South Australia,” Howard stated.
“Everyone loves this man. Rash, you get the chance to bowl to Brian Charles Lara. How are you feeling?”
“It is unbelievable,” Khan replied.
“As soon as I heard that I was going to bowl to him I was super excited and nervous as well. It is going to be a different day for me bowling to someone like Brian Lara, who is a great player of spin bowling. I think it is going to be a great challenge for me.
“It is not just about winning and losing, but I am heaps proud to bowl to him.”
Few individuals may have predicted how effectively Lara would play in opposition to among the best bowlers on the earth in his prime, however the West Indies legend greater than held his personal and even dominated Khan at instances.
Lara and Khan may hear one another by their microphones and Khan confirmed he meant business when he refused to open up to Howard what he was bowling first ball.
“I’m not telling him now,” Khan stated.
Khan’s first ball was a large down the leg aspect displaying some nerves from the sensible spinner.
“A wide down the leg side first up,” Howard stated.
“Brian what are your first thoughts on the pace?”
“It looked a little quicker than some of the bowlers I have seen out there (pointing to the middle of Adelaide Oval).”
Next ball Lara eased by mid-wicket with a again foot drive in his classical type.
Third ball Lara tucked off his pads across the nook. Fourth ball was a wrong-un that Lara rocked again and lower by the covers.
Fifth ball Khan used one other wrong-un that received by Lara’s defences, however missed the stumps.
“No edge, I’m still here,” Lara stated with amusing.
Last ball of the primary over, Lara whipped Khan off his pads across the nook together with his trademark wrists.
“He’s very quick through the air, but if he pitches short I still have a lot of time to play, “Lara said between overs.
“So far he hasn’t got his length yet, so lucky for me. I think he is going to be dangerous if he finds his length.
First ball of the second over Lara rocked back and cut Khan away with ease. Second ball Lara again whipped Khan off his pads as he dropped short.
Last ball of the Test cricket section of the battle, Lara negotiated Khan with a forward defensive stroke on the on-side.
Next Lara was given 12 runs to win off an over of Twenty20 bowling from Khan.
First ball struck him on the pads down the leg side for a leg bye. Second ball Lara advanced but blocked after being struck on the pad.
Needing 11 from four, Lara stepped back and smoked Khan in a cut shot that wouldn’t look out of place in his highlight reels from his prime.
Needing seven from three, Lara produced a pull shot that would have gone to the boundary, but Howard gave him just one run.
Needing six off two for the win, Lara advanced and hit on the off-side for one run, meaning he needed four for a super over and six for the win.
last ball, Lara advanced and smashed the ball to mid-wicket for four.
“One bounce for four, it is a tie,” Howard stated.
“How was it Brian?”
“It was good fun,” Lara stated.
“Low trajectory. I think Rashid may not be in top form at the moment, but it was just awesome and a privilege to face the great man.”
“And for you Rashid?” Howard requested.
“It was a great experience bowling to him,” Khan stated.
“You can’t dream about bowling to him, so it was a huge pleasure for me no matter what happened. But for me it was one of the best moments”
Social media lit up with pundits and followers in awe of Lara’s sensible efficiency with the bat and known as for him to get a call-up for the struggling Windies in opposition to Australia. .
Originally revealed as ‘Could West Indies call him up?’: 53-year-old legend Lara smokes BBL celebrity in epic internet session
