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After ruling for 17 bright years, with his spell-bounding batting, Brian Lara bode farewell to world cricket atlast, with unforgetable memories. Though the conclusion of his career wasnt as spectacular as his career was, but it didnt a bit tarnished his image as a maestro. Un-luckity he didnt succeed to make his last match and last event memorable. His desire to snatch-back the glory of West Indian cricket also didnt become fruitful.

He played his first ODI and test match against Pakistan, and his last test was also against Pakistan, but he played his last match in world cup 2007 against England. When Lara entered in the stadium to play his last innings in the international arena, first Chris Gayle greeted him then English team presented him with gaurd of honour upon his arrival and departure. More than 23 thousands spectators also bode him goodbye in an exquisite and rapturous fashion.

Before world cup, he had announced his retirement from ODI, but due to the dismal performance of team and severe criticism he also left test cricket. There is no doubt about his talent and his sublime achievements. His extraordinary abilities have left their mark on everyone. He will be remembered because of so many aspects. He is a record maker as well as record braker. His some records are so formidable, they are hard to be broken in near future.

He played 299 One Day Internationals and 131 test matches. In ODIs, he made 10405 runs with an average of 40.48. He made 19 centuries and 63 fifties. In test matches, he made 11953 runs with an average of 52.88 runs with 34 hundreds and 48 fifties. He was such a class act, he was considered as one of the greatest batsman of all times and is counted in the names like Gary Sobers, Don Bradman, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ricky Ponting and Tendulkar.

His career is brimming with amazing records and achievements, but his most celebrated record is that two times he made the most runs in one inning of a test match. He also made 500 runs in one inning in the first class match by playing from the Warwickshire county. First Lara broke the 365-runs record of Sir Gary Sobers, by making 375 runs, then Mathew Hayden of Australia broke this record by making 380 runs. But Lara again broke the record by making 400 runs, just after 6 months.

The magic career of Brian Lara isnt devoid of controversies. His biggest problem was his captaincy. Where he was a superb batsman, he was an average captain. He was awarded three times the responsibilites of captainship but due to clashes and controversies, he didnt manage to carry on as a good captain.

But, nonetheless, his batting will be remembered, whenever a left-handed batsman will achieve any considerable milestone.