Jamaicans express some surprise over Lara’s retirement
Guyana Chronicle
April 21, 2007
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Brian Lara's announcement Thursday evening that he is quitting international cricket has surprised many Jamaicans, including former Test players Maurice Foster and Jeffrey Dujon.
Apart from the regular talk on the streets of Kingston, cricket experts and former players have also expressed shock at the batting hero's sudden departure from the game.
Dujon, a former West Indies wicketkeeper, said Lara’s stated desire to tour England this summer makes this latest decision unforeseen.
"I am a little surprised because he was taking about going to England," Dujon said.
Dujon, however, believes "it (decision) comes at a good time" and said the team would now have time to rebuild.
"He is the best batsman in the team but now the others will have to step up."
Foster was more surprised at the timing of the announcement from the batting world-record holder than anything else.
"I thought the timing was surprising," said Foster, a member of the winning West Indies 1975 World Cup team.
"I thought he would have done it after the England game," continued Foster, who played 14 Test matches for the West Indies between 1969 and 1978.
Foster continued: "It did not surprise me, based on the information I received. I did not see him going to England. Knowing Brian, I would not see him going to England under a new captain," concluded Foster.
Lara, who turns 38 years old on May 2, has played international cricket for 17 years. He holds the world record for the highest Test score of 400 not out against England set three years ago in Antigua, and the highest first-class score of 501 not out against Durham 13 years ago at Edgbaston.
He has scored a world record 11 953 runs in 131 Tests, and 10 387 runs in 298 One-day Internationals.
Jamaica’s national coach Junior Bennett admitted to being shocked by Lara’s decision.
"Yes definitely, I was surprised," he said.
“I said he was looking forward to the England tour, and he would call it after that tour," Bennett assumed.
"So for him to retire now, something definitely must have gone wrong," added Bennett.
Brian Breese, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Cricket Operations Officer, said Lara's announcement about quitting One-Day cricket after the World Cup led him to believe he would be considering touring England.
"I was going ahead with his comments that he was calling it a day from the ODI arena, so yes, it came as a surprise to me," Breese said.
"I was very much expecting him to remain in the Test arena and be a part of the England tour," Breese said.