West Indies batting legend Brian Lara recently shared a hilarious story about his very first Test match and an unforgettable, albeit humbling, encounter with his idol, Sir Vivian Richards.
A Rookie’s Unforgettable Welcome
Lara recounted the moment on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast, revealing the unique circumstances of his debut. He was eager to join his heroes like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, and Malcolm Marshall in the dressing room.
Arriving at Queen’s Park Oval for practice an hour early, Lara was filled with anticipation. He imagined a warm welcome from his cricketing idols, but what he got was far more memorable.
As he approached the tiny dressing room, his cricket bag came flying out, spilling its contents everywhere. Lara, surprised but undeterred, calmly gathered his gear and re-entered.
It turned out he had inadvertently placed his bag in Sir Vivian Richards’ usual spot. The consequence? Lara spent the first five days of his Test career using the bathroom as his personal changing area.
Childhood Dreams and Secret Radio Sessions
Beyond the dressing room antics, Lara also shared a glimpse into his early love for the game. He revealed how he and his brothers would stay up late, sneaking listens to radio commentary of West Indies tours in Australia.
With a 15-hour time difference, matches would start late at night in Trinidad. Their father allowed them to listen to the first session, but then it was off to bed.
Despite the bedtime rule, Lara and his brothers would keep their own radios on, ready to pretend to snore if their dad’s bedroom door creaked open, indicating he was checking on them. These secret listening sessions fueled their passion for the sport and its legends.
- Brian Lara’s first Test match involved a memorable encounter with Sir Viv Richards.
- He humorously shared how a misplaced bag led him to use the bathroom as a changing room for five days.
- Lara also recounted childhood stories of secretly listening to West Indies cricket matches on the radio.
These anecdotes offer a charming look into the early days of a cricketing icon, highlighting both his reverence for the game’s greats and the humble beginnings of his legendary career.
