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Cape Town - West Indian great Brian Lara admits that he was hoping Australian batsman David Warner would break his record of most runs scored in a single Test match innings.
Warner scored 335 not out in the second Test against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval, surpassing Sir Donald Bradman and Mark Taylor for the second highest total by an Australian of all time.
Many criticised Australian captain Tim Paine for declaring and not allowing Warner to challenge for Lara's 400, which he scored against England in 2004.
Lara happened to be in Adelaide at the time and would have been delighted to personally congratulate Warner on the achievement, in the same way Sir Garfield Sobers congratulated him in 2004.
"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 told 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 great batsman did admit, however, that it was probably the right decision in the context of the game for Paine to declare when he did.
"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. 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," said Lara.
"They were justified by picking up six wickets last night and you can see today things are slower so the declaration came at the right time.
"But after passing Sir Donald Bradman I would have loved to see him race towards me."
Lara believes it is still possible for the 33-year-old Warner to break his record.
"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," said Lara.
"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."
- TeamTalk Media
