Brian Lara’s life still a journey even after retirement

One would think that, after spending most of your life on tour, retirement would mean lazing around at home with your feet up or taking leisurely walks on the beach – especially when you come from an island.

But this is not the case for cricket demigod Brian Charles Lara.

“I spend about six months at home and another six travelling around the world,” he says as we sit overlooking the Lost City Golf Course at Sun City in North West. “I love travelling.”

Lara is here for the Gary Player Invitational, a golfing event that raises funds for charity.

Besides being sporting icons, the pair share a great passion for charity.

“It’s amazing to be here – always great to be invited by Gary Player for any event. We are from different eras, but his achievements are very special,” says Lara.

“I come from a family of six brothers and four sisters who all played cricket as kids. There were 11 of us, so we were like a cricket team.

“I had a burning desire to one day play for the West Indies – remember, they were the best cricket team in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I must thank my late dad Bunty, who was very supportive from a very young age and would take me to all practices and matches. In fact, my siblings became jealous because they felt, as the last-born, I was getting too much special treatment.”

Lara senior is one of the reasons the cricket great is so supportive of charities.

“Charity is very close to my heart because my dad died of a heart attack and my mother [Pearl] succumbed to cancer. Hence we have a Brian Lara Cancer Hospital back home [Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago] that was built through the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation. My siblings take care of the foundation most of the time because I am always travelling.

“As somebody who comes from a small island, I really enjoyed going to countries such as India, Australia, England and South Africa on tour.”

For someone who has achieved so much in a stellar career, it is quite difficult for Lara to pick a few milestones that stand out.

He says: “My first 100 against Australia when I ended up on 277 runs will always stand out. Our team’s performance when we beat Australia by 408 runs in a test in 2003 is also one of them. Winning the ICC [International Cricket Council] Champions Trophy in England in 2004 was also very special.”

Were there any disappointments during his playing days and in life in general?

His answer is philosophical: “They are just as many as my successes, but I don’t like to dwell on them. However many there may have been, I wouldn’t exchange the life I’ve lived for anything.”

And his advice for young players?

“I came to South Africa and travelled through the townships with Dr Ali Bacher [then Cricket SA’s boss] in 1994. Remember that, in the 70s and 80s, there were not too many black cricket players. I was amazed at the talent I saw that time. I think there are so many players from formerly disadvantaged backgrounds who can grow and make it to the national team. The important ingredients are desire, discipline and to be driven.

“Young sportspeople must have the desire to play for the national team, no matter what sport it is.”