Did I entertain you?

That is what Brian Charles Lara asked the packed crowd at the Kensington Oval last Saturday. A redundant question - that was replied with an even more redundant deafening applause in the affirmative from the crowd. Farther away, every true cricket fan (not bigoted fanatics) would have at least nodded a silent yes. For, that was what the man did - entertain. He is the last of the lot of cricketers who played their game for the love of it - and gave you joy in the process. You do not feel awe despite his thunderous presence, it always made you happy from within, a feeling one might get if one was to watch, and not read, poetry.

I am not going to the everlasting debate of whether he was the best player of his time. In my book, he was - he was simply above the rest in that his were genius acts, not rehearsed performances. Thus, he was highly unpredictable, susceptible to a luscious delivery and commanding impossible ones across or over the rope. Statistics do not count for players like him - despite the fact that he is right up there on that front as well - the fact that stands out is that he was best by miles on his day. Can you imagine any player to have scored 1276 runs in just 3 innings - and not out in 2 of them as well? I remember staying up till 3 am - despite my XIIth board chemistry exam the next morning - when he scored 153* in the fourth innings against McGrath, Gillespie, Warne and McGill, adding 70 odd runs with Ambrose (12) and Walsh (0*) for company. That was cricket - you had to see it to believe it.

I sincerely believed he had another 2 years of top class cricket left in him for sure. At least, he could have continued in the Tests. I am sure, he did want the same - since he had hinted about it so many times. But then he felt the undercurrents that ran in West Indian cricket and stepped out before it sucked him in. He had always spoken out against the powers that be for a range of issues - but decided to remain silent in his last act. He was surely not lacking in fitness or form, maybe his autobiography would talk about the decision when the dust settles.

It's a known fact that West Indian cricket is in the doldrums since around the mid 90s. But to make, break and rebuild records and be the best in the business amongst such ruins really shows the character and passion he had for the game.

With due respect to all the great players around, I have to admit that cricket has no charm left for me anymore. And - maybe leaving aside some decisive matches - I would not be watching cricket anymore. "Did I entertain you?" he asked. And as the resounding applause died down, he added, "If I entertained you I am really happy..." You bet you did Brian. And even though you managed to walk off one last time wiping just a single drop of tear, your bereaved team and countless followers would find it difficult to contain theirs everytime cricket is played without you.

God bless!