Few batters have ever owned a cricket ground quite like Brian Lara. In October 2025 the great left-hander was handed the CEAT Lifetime Achievement Award in Mumbai by Sunil Gavaskar, and he remains one of the loudest voices calling for a West Indies Test revival.
From a high backlift in Trinidad to the two highest individual scores the game has seen, this is the story of the Prince. Browse every legend of the game in our cricket collection.
Brian Lara Fact File
| Full name | Brian Charles Lara |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 May 1969 (age 57) |
| Place of birth | Cantaro, Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Role | Left-handed batter |
| Nationality | Trinidad and Tobago / West Indies |
| Current status | Retired; ICC Hall of Famer and elder statesman of West Indies cricket |
| ODI shirt number | 9 |
| Nickname | The Prince, the Prince of Port of Spain |
Career History
| Format | Years | Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1990–2006 | 131 | 11,953 | 400* | 52.88 | 34 |
| ODIs | 1990–2007 | 299 | 10,405 | 169 | 40.48 | 19 |
| First-class | 1987–2008 | 261 | 22,156 | 501* | 51.88 | 65 |
Figures from ESPNcricinfo. First-class totals include Trinidad and Tobago, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal and West Indies matches. * = not out.
Early Years in Santa Cruz
One of eleven children, Lara was enrolled at the Harvard Coaching Clinic at the age of six by his father Bunty and sister Agnes. He went on to Fatima College, where coach Harry Ramdass helped polish the extravagant technique that would light up the world.
He became Trinidad and Tobago's youngest ever captain at 20, and made his ODI and Test debuts against Pakistan in late 1990.
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The Summer That Rewrote the Record Books
In 1994 Lara scored 375 against England at St John's, Antigua, breaking Sir Garfield Sobers' Test record of 365 not out. That summer he joined Warwickshire, piled up six hundreds in seven innings and then, against Durham at Edgbaston, made 501 not out off 427 balls. It is still the highest score in first-class cricket.
He was named Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World in 1994 and 1995, and BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1994.
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Captain, Genius and 400 Not Out
Lara captained the West Indies in three spells. His unbeaten 153 to beat Australia at Bridgetown in 1999 was rated by Wisden as the second-greatest Test innings ever, behind only Bradman's 270.
In April 2004, back in Antigua and with Matthew Hayden having taken his record, Lara batted on to 400 not out against England. He remains the only man to regain the Test record. Months later he lifted the ICC Champions Trophy in England, and in November 2005 he passed Allan Border to become Test cricket's leading run-scorer.
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Farewell and Legacy
Lara retired from international cricket at the 2007 World Cup, his last innings a run-out for 18 against England. He has since mentored West Indies players, coached Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and seen the Brian Lara Stadium open in Tarouba in 2017.
Honours
Team
- ICC Champions Trophy: 2004 (captain)
Individual
- Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 1994, 1995
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1995
- BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: 1994
- ICC Cricket Hall of Fame: 2012
- CEAT Lifetime Achievement Award: 2025
Records
- Highest Test score: 400* v England, 2004
- Highest first-class score: 501* v Durham, 1994
Away From the Game
Lara founded the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation, named after his parents, which focuses on health and social care. His name also fronted the long-running Brian Lara Cricket video game series, and he has served as an Ambassador for Sport for Trinidad and Tobago.
FAQs
How old is Brian Lara?
Brian Lara was born on 2 May 1969, so he is 57 years old.
Where was Brian Lara born?
He was born in Cantaro, Santa Cruz, in Trinidad and Tobago.
How tall is Brian Lara?
Lara stands 5 ft 8 in, or about 1.73 m.
What teams did Brian Lara play for?
He played for Trinidad and Tobago, Northern Transvaal, Warwickshire, Southern Rocks and the West Indies.
What is Brian Lara's highest score?
His 400 not out against England in 2004 is the highest Test score, and his 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994 is the highest first-class score.
How many Test runs did Brian Lara score?
He scored 11,953 Test runs at an average of 52.88, with 34 centuries in 131 Tests.
Shop the Brian Lara Collection
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Brian Lara Men's Hoodie
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Brian Lara Men's T-Shirt
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Explore every great of the game in our cricket collection, or create your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne.
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