Until 6th June 1994, 501 was associated with the starting score in darts or Levi's. Since that memorable day, to any cricket fan that particular number means one thing only: Brian Lara.
In an era without the diversion of Twenty 20, exciting cricket was, more often than not, linked with the West Indies. At the start of 2004, the Trinidadian Lara had powered his way from being just another exciting Caribbean batsman with an exaggerated backlift to a world record holder. His 375 against England blew away Gary Sobers' long-standing landmark of 365 for an individual Test innings, and Warwickshire must have been licking their lips in anticipation of their new signing for the summer.
In those days, a contract was more than just a vague promise to play a few matches providing a T20 franchise or international selectors came a-calling, and the arrival of Lara would not only bring the world's media to Edgbaston, but also the most successful domestic season achieved by any county in the modern era. Warwickshire had a decent side but Lara was something else. Think Messi coming to Everton.
In his first seven innings for the county, Lara struck six centuries! Then, on the 2nd June, Durham came to town. They were relatively new to first-class cricket and not the top team we see now. Skipper Phil Bainbridge won the toss and opted to bat first on a belter. Although the openers fell cheaply, it seemed to be a good decision as the visitors piled on 365-3 on the first day. They extended their superiority the following morningm, declaring on 556-8, John Morris helping himself to 204 before Lara caught him off Paul Smith's bowling.
Bajan fast bowler Anderson Cummins removed Ostler for only eight, heralding the arrival of Brian Charles Lara to join opener Roger Twose. By close, Warwickshire were 211-2 and Lara had made yet another century, to cap the best run of three-figure scores in first-class history (seven in eight innings). The weather wrote off day three, then came Sunday's rest day (presumably there was a one-day League game) before Lara and Trevor Penney could resume where they left off.
With just a day left, a result was obviously impossible so this was probably a day for dreary defence and an early handshake to bring proceedings to a close. But this was Lara, and such an approach was alien. The few who attended on Monday 6th June musy have been rubbing their eyes in astonishment at what followed. He smiplay cut loose, thrashing everything Durham could throw at him. He passed 200, 300, 400 and then Hanif Mohammed's awesome 499 not out was there for the taking. The third wicket partnership of 314 featured a mere 44 from Trevor Penney, himself no slouch in one-day cricket. Keith Piper then joined in the fun, notching a personal best 116 not out in a second triple-century stand but this was all about the West Indian superstar.
He continued his merry way to 501 not out, at which juncture there was no point in going on, and Dermot Reeve declared on 810-4. The crowd and players had witnessed 600 runs in a day and a world record which still stands to this day. I recall being on holiday in Carlisle that week, peering up at a tiny TV in my attic B&B room, barely able to believe that Lara had broken the two most important cricketing records in just two months. 500??!!
Perhaps buoyed by this early season rampage, Warwickshire proceeded to win the Championship and two of the three one-day competitions, failing to complete the clean sweep only by losing in the final. Lara stayed with the county for another four years before he concentrated on propping up the ailing West Indies for another decade. Matthew Hayden beat his 375, albeit against Zimbabwe, so Lara merely stepped up a gear in 2004 to reclaim the record, taking a hapless England (again) attack for an unbeaten 400. The following year he overtook Allan Border's career Test run aggregate but, with West Indian in-fighting destroying unity on and off the pitch, he tired of carrying the islands' cricket hopes on his ever-broadening shoulders, he called it a day in 2006.
Tendulkar, Ponting and others may have overhauled the overall Test run record but nobody has come near to Brian Lara's Bradman-esque love of huge individual scores. He became bogged down in his latter years but in his pomp, Lara was an exhilarating batsman, even at a time when he routinely faced legendary bowlers like Waqar Younis, Shane Warne, Allan Donald and Muttiah Muralitharan. Sadly on the one occasion I saw him play at Lord's he was dismissed for just eight. The crowd emitted an almost-audible groan in disappointment. However, there are plenty of DVDs or YouTube clips around to watch and enjoy. Viv Richards may have had the greater aura in all cricket but there really was nothing like Lara in those heady days two decades ago.
