Brian Lara may have returned from Sri Lanka with a fractured elbow, but his astonishing performances with the bat healed a reputation that was slowly disintegrating.

In 1994 he became a double world record-holder, scoring 375 for the West Indies and 501 not out for Warwickshire and was, without question, the finest batsman on the planet.

But the Trinidadian struggled with the trappings of success and his performances suffered.

Troubled by attitude and injury, Lara was ousted from the top of the world rankings and his Test average slipped below 50 as Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh and recently Andy Flower assumed his mantle.

A rejuvenated Lara flew to Sri Lanka promising a new approach, a new attitude and, more importantly, a stack of runs.

He delivered in the grand manner, scoring 689 runs in just three Tests to win `Man of the Series' despite the West Indies' 3-0 drubbing and in doing so brought joy to the West Indies' cricket fanatics who have ached for success in recent years.

Dr Nigel Camacho, convenor of the `Trini Posse', the world famous band of West Indies supporters, described how the second coming of Lara is crucial to the development of Caribbean cricket.

``For me, Christmas came early this year, getting my gift well in advance, Brian Lara reclaiming the number one spot amongst Test batsmen in the world.

``His heroics tempered another disastrous West Indian team performance, for out of all the gloom there was still something for all West Indian cricket fans to hold on to.

``His 689 runs are the highest ever by a West Indian in a three Test series, second only to Englishman Graham Gooch's 752 in 1990 against India.

``Lara's 351-match aggregate in a losing effort is a world record, surpassing the 341 set by Andy Flower against South Africa only months earlier.

``How, in heaven's name, could one batsman contribute 351 runs and that player still end up losing the Test match by 10 wickets as happened in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka?

``Unfortunately, though, over the past six or seven years, nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to West Indies cricket.

``Researchers will have to look this one up, but when is the last time a team was so soundly beaten, yet the `Man of the Series' came from the losing team?

``In all my years of following West Indies cricket, I can't recall this ever happening, especially when Hashan Tillakaratne, a batsman on the winning side, averaged 403 and Muttiah Muralitharan claimed two 10-wicket hauls!

``Brian promised a few things prior to the series and he delivered too.

``Promising 500 runs and two centuries he gave us 689 and three, including centuries in each innings of the final Test - the 10th time this feat has been achieved by a West Indian.

``He also promised to start to get his batting average back up to 50 - considered the benchmark for greatness - and he achieved it in one series, raising his career average an incredible three points.

``It is clear now, as it has always been, that with Lara the old adage applies more than ever: `Form is temporary, class is permanent'.

``Lara's critics, although briefly silenced, will remain circumspect, for throughout his career indiscretion has led to mediocrity, relative to his potential, for our batting genius.

``However, even his most testing critics must admit there is something different about Brian these days, something very positive.

``No one might ever know where his seemingly new found maturity came from, and to be honest, it doesn't really matter.

``The media has made much about his interaction with Sir Gary Sobers, and although I am certain this has been an integral part of Lara's revival, I am equally certain there is much more to the story than that.

``West Indies and particularly Trinidad and Tobago need Brian Lara more than ever, and not just from a cricketing standpoint either.

``We need a hero, and this is why we must give him our wholehearted support tempered with the right balance of constructive criticism. We must not dwell on the past, just learn from mistakes made and move forward.

``Here's wishing a speedy and full recovery to our batting genius, and may India and New Zealand feel his wrath come next year.''

27 Dec, 2001