Legendary WI cricket Brian Lara related the meeting he had with two close friends in the wee hours of the final day of the Third Test match against Australia at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on March 30, 1999, that helped propel the West Indies to an exciting victory as he uses the historic win to inspire the concerted fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on social media the former WI captain described the match as the best five days of cricket he ever played.
Staring down almost certain defeat with the West Indies down to 85 runs for three on the fourth day and requiring 223 to win on the final day, Lara said he called Nicholas Gomez, the former captain at Fatima College, who travelled to Jamaica for the Second Test to give him the support he knew he needed a week earlier and then made his way to Barbados as well.
He said together with Hugh Scott they planned their strategy; take it easy against the fast bowlers, see them out, he was better against spinners, he can attack them, take the chance against them and he was going to get it done.
Lara said "It was the best test I've ever played. Today we face an enemy that's winning at the moment. But if we take stock of our responsibilities, adhere to our leaders cry for a disciplined approach we will win this test match as well. Play safe."
