David Warner, on last Saturday, became the seventh Australian batsman to score a triple-century during the Day-Night Test against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval.
The southpaw surpassed Don Bradman and Mark Taylor’s highest scores of 334 and looked comfortable to break the record of highest individual Test score (400) set by the West Indies batting legend Brian Lara before Australia skipper Tim Paine declared the innings with Warner unbeaten on 335.
Coincidentally, Lara was also in Adelaide on the day Warner scored his maiden Test triple-century and was expecting the Aussie opener to break his record. The former Windies skipper revealed that he was looking forward to congratulate Warner in person had the Australian surpassed his highest Test score, just Sir Gary Sobers had done when he achieved the record feat.
Lara twice held the record for the highest Test score. Before his 400, he had scored 375 in 1994, going past compatriot Gary Sobers’ then highest score of 365. When Lara went past 365 in 2004, Sobers had walked out to congratulate him on breaking his record.
“I was hoping they might catch me and get me (out) there, and that was one of the reasons I was hoping they might have let him go for it,” Lara was quoted as saying by News Corp.
“It would have been amazing to walk out there (as Sobers did). Records are made to be broken. It’s great when they are broken by attacking players. Entertainers. Being in Adelaide, I would have got an opportunity to if not walk out at least meet him at this opportune time,” said Lara.
The 50-year-old Trinidadian said that Warner could still reach the 400-run mark.
“I still think Warner may have time to do it in his career. I know he is not a spring chicken, but as soon as you get that 300, you know how to get 400. He may get another shot at it.
“He is a very attacking player, and that is the sort of player who can always set you up for a win. I know you need stabilizers, but you also need one or two players like David Warner and Sir Vivian Richards, who can take the game with their bats.”
“But after passing Sir Donald Bradman, I would have loved to see him race towards me. I was getting dressed to come back near the end of his innings. I was listening to commentators say whether he would have a go at Matthew Hayden’s 380, but I felt if he got to 381, he would have to have a go at my record,” Lara added.
The Windies veteran also said that although he understood the captain’s decision of declaring the innings, he would have like if Warner was given a little more time to try and etch his name in history books.
“It was a great innings. I can see that Australia winning the match was the major thing and the weather was a big factor, but I would have loved to have seen Australia go for it. Being here, I would have loved to see it. Even if they say ‘hey David, you have got 12 overs, see if you could do it by tea time’ It would have been great.”
Warner’s best-ever Test knock helped Australia post a mammoth 589/3 in the first innings. In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 302 in the first innings and then for 239 in the second innings.
Australia clean sweep the two-match Test series by thrashing the tourists by an innings and 48 runs in Adelaide.
