Brian Charles Lara: brilliant, coruscating legend

    

Forget the Ashes, it's all happening down in the Punjab, where a certain Mr B.C. Lara has smashed yet another record.

Lara has become the first West Indian - and only the fifth batsman in history - to score a century before lunch, in his 130th Test.

In compiling his 34th Test century, the Windies skipper scored exactly 100 in the morning session, before closing on 196 not out. The visitors now lead by 152 runs with five wickets in hand and two days of the Second Test remaining.

The Trinidadian is in good company, joining Pakistan's Majid Khan (108 runs before lunch against New Zealand in 1976) and three Aussies: Victor Trumper (103 v England, 1902), Charles Macartney (112 v England, 1926) and perhaps the greatest batsman ever, Sir Donald Bradman - 105 v England in the third Ashes Test of 1930 - the innings in which he scored a then world record 334.

      

But back to the Ashes, now a mere 30-odd hours away ...