Brian Lara

This electrifying batsman can tear any bowling attack to shreads.

Date of Birth: 2 May 1969

Bowling Style: Right-arm leg-break

Batting Style: Left-handed

Test Debut: 1990 vs Pakistan, Lahore

ODI Debut: 1990 vs Pakistan, Karachi

Profile:

Prior to the 2000-01 tour of Australia, Lara asserted he would like to attain a higher level of consistency in his batting over the latter part of his career that illustrious contemporaries like Australia's Steve Waugh and India's Sachin Tendulkar have exhibited.

Although he led the team in total runs scored on the tour he managed to pass the century mark just once and would have been disappointed with his performance.

Lara performed creditably but below his and fans expectations during the 2001 home series against SA.

He was forced to leave the tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya just two weeks after his arrival due to a recurrence of his chronic hamstring injury. Any meaningful future contribution from the batting sensation will be largely dependent on how well this injury heals.

Apart from his electrifying batting Lara remains one of the game's best fielders at first slip.