Two of the greatest batters in cricket history, India's Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies' Brian Lara, set numerous records during their illustrious careers, many of which still stand today. Tendulkar remains the highest run-scorer in both Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426), while Lara holds the records for the highest individual score in Tests (400) and First Class cricket (501). Despite their mutual admiration, Lara recently revealed that he believes his former teammate Carl Hooper was more naturally gifted than both him and Tendulkar.
Lara stated in his new book that Carl Hooper was the most talented player he ever saw. He remarked that neither he nor Tendulkar could match Hooper's raw talent. Lara pointed out that Hooper's performance improved significantly when he was given the responsibility of captaincy, averaging nearly 50, which highlighted his true potential.
Lara also noted that legendary West Indies batter Vivian Richards had a special fondness for Hooper, even more than for Lara himself. He explained that while Richards was stern and didn't show affection openly, he genuinely wanted others to succeed and had a particular admiration for Hooper.
In a recent interview, Lara identified two players each from England and India who he believes have the potential to break his record of 400 runs in a Test innings. He mentioned that during his time, players like Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Sanath Jayasuriya came close to challenging his record due to their aggressive playing styles. Today, he sees similar potential in England's Zak Crawley and Harry Brook, and India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Lara suggested that if these players find themselves in the right situations, they could surpass his record.
Lara's insights not only highlight the immense talent he witnessed during his career, but also point to future stars who might continue to push the boundaries of cricketing excellence.