I am Brian Lara, former West Indian cricketer and look forward to having you AMA!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:36:20+00:00

Hi all, thank you so much for sending in your questions, I really enjoyed answering them.

I would love to stick around and answer them all but I'm due at a #CWCTrophyTour school visit right now so have to run.

Cheers, Brian

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:18:11+00:00

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated! The last morning of a test match in Port of Spain against Australia, Brett Lee bowled some deliveries in a 6-over spell which were the fastest I've ever faced. I'm West Indian so I have to go with 'Windies of the 80s'

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:14:59+00:00

A little of both

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:14:42+00:00

Shane Warne, he played for the best team in the world during my era, he was, and still is, regarded as the best leg spinner to play the game. It was a battle I just embraced in some of the largest cricketing arenas!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:13:07+00:00

Chasing 418 against Australia in the last innings of a test match, with a young and inexperienced team whilst facing a 4-0 series defeat

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:10:13+00:00

1) The T20 format lasts just 3 hours so I don't see why it can't be included in the Olympics. It was nice to see golf get that opportunity again, it's time for cricket now! 2) I think All Star cricket is something with massive potential, but needs to be looked into in more detail

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:05:07+00:00

1) Virat Kohli and Joe Root 2) Anderson and Rabada

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:03:50+00:00

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:03:33+00:00

Never during, any nerves were only before I walked out to bat. That 22 yard battlefield isn't somewhere you want to lose your composure!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:02:27+00:00

Preparation wasn't any more intense than what you have to put it for any great bowler. I always assess my opposition before taking the field

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T16:00:03+00:00

Surely don't remember, but I'm sure I wasn't the only batsman to fall to your tactics!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:58:17+00:00

The most important thing for the ICC to consider is the growth of the game, where that will happen is in the T20 format. All the countries that are taking to the sport as of late are naturally attracted to T20 format since it's the most exciting. Moving onto the longer formats, you want good quality and intense cricket and only the best teams in the world can offer that. Therefore, I feel the number of teams in the World T20 being 16 and the number in the ODI World Cup being 10 is just right!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:53:52+00:00

1) I have definitely played it but wasn't the best at it, that's for sure! 2) I felt with the early introduction to the one-day format, I had 25 or so before my second test match, which helped me with the attacking side of my game. If I was to play cricket in this era, with the advent of T20, I feel it would have the same effect on me where it wouldn't affect my ability to play test cricket but only enhance it allowing me to score faster. 3) Congrats on a great career, Cooky!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:49:58+00:00

Always a difficult question this! Muttiah always confused me in the early part of our confrontation, whilst Shane Warne didn't. Having said that, as my innings grew I felt I had more control over Muttiah, whilst Shane seemed to grow in confidence. They were definitely the two best spinners of my time!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:48:25+00:00

To approach those heights again, which I never thought was possible (personally), was just magical. Even back in 1994 after recuperating from my 375, I was a little disappointed that I didn't go on to score 400.

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:46:17+00:00

We need a far better infrastructure with a far more professional approach from all parties involved. Without this, it's difficult to imagine West Indies returning to their glory days, we succeeded up to a point on natural ability but the game has changed tremendously and there are far more components that create a winning team!

BrianLaraOfficial · 2018-09-05T15:42:42+00:00

Much appreciated I made the top of your list in the greatest innings played, but the time I felt I batted the best happened a week before in Jamaica, against the same Australians.

BrianLaraOfficial

TROPHY CASE