West Indies cricket icon Brian Lara has identified a player he considers more gifted than himself and Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. In his latest book, 'Lara: The England Chronicles', the renowned Windies batsman, often referred to as the 'Prince of Trinidad' due to his remarkable batting skills and records, named former West Indies all-rounder Carl Hooper as the player in question. Lara praised Hooper extensively in the book, noting his exceptional performance as a captain, during which he realized his full potential.
Lara described Hooper as one of the finest players he has ever witnessed, suggesting that neither he nor Tendulkar could match Hooper's talent. He highlighted Hooper's impressive statistics as a captain, where he averaged nearly 50, indicating his enjoyment of the captaincy role. Lara expressed regret that Hooper only reached his peak as a captain, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
Hooper's cricket career spanned 102 Test matches from 1987 to 2002, during which he scored 5,762 runs at an average of 36.46, including 13 centuries and 27 fifties, with a top score of 233. He also claimed 114 wickets, with his best figures being 5/26. In 227 One Day Internationals (ODIs), Hooper accumulated 5,761 runs at an average of 35.34, with seven centuries and 29 fifties, and a best score of 113 not out. He also took 193 wickets in ODIs, with his best performance being 4/34.
Reflecting on Hooper's 111-run innings against England at Lord's in 1991, Lara reminisced about Hooper's class and elegance on the field. He noted that despite Hooper's immense talent, he seemed unaware of his own greatness. Lara also shared anecdotes about the influence of former West Indies great Viv Richards, who could be intimidating with his voice, affecting both Lara and Hooper differently.
Lara clarified that Richards' sternness was part of his personality and not intended to discourage anyone from achieving greatness. He emphasized that Richards had a deep affection for Hooper, even if his way of showing it did not align with Hooper's expectations. Lara, with a career spanning 425 matches, 22,260 runs at an average of 46.66, 53 centuries, and 110 fifties, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time.
