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, describing him as one of the finest cricketers he has witnessed. He also commended Hooper's exceptional performance as a captain, during which he believed Hooper reached his full potential.

Lara stated in the book, as reported by ESPNCricinfo, 'Carl was undoubtedly one of the best players I've ever seen. I believe neither Tendulkar nor I could match his talent. When you separate his career into playing and captaining, his statistics look quite different. As a captain, he averaged nearly 50, which indicates he thrived under responsibility. It's unfortunate that he only realized his true potential while captaining.'

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 took 114 wickets, with his best figures being 5/26. In 227 One Day Internationals (ODIs), he accumulated 5,761 runs at an average of 35.34, with seven centuries and 29 fifties, and a best score of 113 not out. Additionally, Hooper claimed 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 remarked, 'That innings at Lord's truly showcased Carl's class. He was a remarkable player, and the ease with which he batted was awe-inspiring, even for senior players like Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, and Greenidge, who would stop their activities to watch him bat.'

Lara also shared insights into the dynamic with former West Indies great Viv Richards, saying, 'Viv used to make me cry every three weeks, but he would make Carl cry once a week. His voice was intimidating, and if you weren't strong, it could affect you personally. I wasn't really affected by it; in fact, I welcomed it because I was under his wing and knew what to expect. Carl, however, tended to avoid Viv Richards.'

Concluding his thoughts, Lara emphasized, 'Viv Richards was not a bully; he had a strong personality and was very aggressive. He inspired during team meetings and always backed his players. Even now, he's not soft. Perhaps he has a soft side, but he's not known for it. It's important to note that Viv never discouraged anyone from being great like him. His sternness was part of who he was, but he never wanted anyone to fail. And yes, Viv loved Carl more than me, but the way he expressed his love didn't resonate with Carl.'

Brian Lara, with a career spanning 425 matches and 22,260 runs at an average of 46.66, including 53 centuries and 110 fifties, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.