Atherton's scathing views on Brian Lara and his legacy

[howardj]

Damn ! Lara is Single handedly carrying the West Indies team on his shoulders again ...... Does he ever Learn ?

I tell you he will be sorry oneday for not playing more like that mediocre Jacka$$ atherton !

That's a little silly. I think youre deliberately missing the point of Atherton's article. It was directed at Lara's emperor-like attitude - not at his batting. Scoring runs does not mean that your "im bigger than the team attitude" no longer exists. After all, scoring runs can be motivated by self-interest. It's the things you do around the team, and your attitude and demeanour that Atherton was touching on.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Atherton knows nothing of Lara then. Whilst Lara does have good reason to believe he is by far the best thing in West Indies cricket, he simply does not. Anyone who has heard him speak in the last 2-3 years can attest to that. I used to have respect for Atherton too.

 

[howardj]

Atherton knows nothing of Lara then. Whilst Lara does have good reason to believe he is by far the best thing in West Indies cricket, he simply does not.

I'd disagree with that. Anyway, more broadly, Lara has been entrusted with the leadership in the past, and as Atherton stated, the West Indies could have hardly done any worse during his tenure. I don't think he's a very unifying force.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd disagree with that. Anyway, more broadly, Lara has been entrusted with the leadership in the past, and as Atherton stated, the West Indies could have hardly done any worse during his tenure. I don't think he's a very unifying force.

Admittedly though the West Indies played their best consistent cricket in recent years under Lara in the Champions Trophy. No captain since perhaps Richie Richardson has gotten the West Indies to look so close to world class.

 

[Nate]

Why is it poor though? Just because Lara is a genius and everyone loves watching him bat, and just because Athers was a Pommy plodder who got busted with dirt in his pocket, doesnt detract from what Atherton is saying.

The fact is Lara is a big-head who has an enormous sense of self-importance, who nobody - in West Indies ranks - has had the courage to stand up to. And does anybody really think the guy is a good captain, or a leader of men?

That is essentially what Atherton is saying. Lara should be judged on his behaviour, not how good he looks at the crease or how much pleasure he has given cricket fans down the years. People just love sucking up to the greats!

The fact? What fact? Gaaah... pointless arguing.

 

[honestbharani]

The only fact is that howardj is Mike Atherton in disguise in these forums.......