Lara has reportedly been trying out for English county Surrey’s Twenty20 team as a prelude to playing in the IPL competition , most likely next year.
In so doing he is displaying the addictive malady of some of world’s greatest prize-fighters who have stayed around much too long past their sell-by date, only to fail miserably and tarnish their glorious reputations.
In Lara’s case though, it is doubtful he would follow the same path as Evander Holyfield and others before him, given his batting genius and the fact that 41 is not too old for batsmen to continue scoring big. However, the burning question in relation to the world record-holder’s sudden decision to return goes deeper than mere love for the game.
Lara may have been induced by the IPL to get involved to boost the organization’s already bulging revenue coffers as a star attraction.
IPL czar Lalit Modi was educated in the United States where money underlines every action in the sports business there. Teams buy big marquee name players to fill stadiums and attract television ratings. Sponsors have a big say in the scheduling of games, not to mention the TV networks who shell out billions for rights.
Lara’s presence would surely garner greater interest around the world and bring in more money for the IPL through tickets and TV ratings, but other factors must be taken into consideration.
His superlative career has been tainted by a tremendous ego, one of the biggest in cricket, if not in sport. He thinks the world of himself and often values his personal interest above anything else, regardless of the consequences
Lara loves being the centre of attention, and it would not be surprising if the former ‘Prince of Port of Spain’ could be feeling left out, as the one major cricket event he has not played in, which is considered the most popular domestic competition ever and by far the most lucrative, and which is creating waves around the cricket world, is going on without him.
Lara does not need the money; he has made tons of it over the years from endorsements and investments, while piling up more than 12,000 Test runs and setting three world records in the process, but his proclivity for attention is just as legendary.
He was there in India for the IPL’s opening round of matches, experienced the glitz and glamour from the stands, saw players revel in the attention and adulation, and was made to feel hollow inside because it is what he has grown accustomed to for more than two thirds of his life.
Sachin Tendulkar, the current world’s best batsman, has enjoyed a long and friendly rivalry with Lara throughout his career, and is thrilling the IPL with his batting prowess, which surely is adding to the latter’s feeling of detachment.
Lara was treated like a king wherever he played during his career, but the difference between sports royalty and the royalty of sovereigns is that the former lasts only for the duration of a playing career while the latter is for a lifetime.
Lara though, feels that he can extend his career beyond that of the average batsman , and who can doubt him.
George Headley played well into his 45th year, Clive Lloyd ended his Test career at 40 and Vivian Richards was upset the West Indies selectors ignored his pleas for re-selection also at 40. Those are a few of the great West Indian batsmen who proved that age is just a number. Lara fits smugly into that category in terms of accomplishments, and can also match them in longevity.
Twenty20 competition fits his agenda as smoothly as it would if he were donning MRF gloves.
The short format does not tax a players’ mental stamina as much as Test or even 50 overs competition would. And for Lara, who has batted long enough to score 500 runs all by himself, it would be a walk in the park to chase totals averaging 160.
Improved technology in training and nutrition these days would make it much easier for Lara to get back smoothly into the fray.
But all the technology in the world cannot prevent injury, which is the biggest problem the former West Indies captain would face as a 40 plus player.
For the cricket purists, Lara’s return to any type of top-level competition would be cheered from dusk dawn, but for his detractors it is another ego trip for self aggrandisement.
