April 12, 2004: Brian Lara becomes 1st batter to hit 400 in Tests during record-breaking knock vs England
India Today
West Indies great Brian Lara, on 12 April 2004, became the first batter to score 400 runs in a single Test inning. It is the highest individual score in a Test match till now.
West Indies great Brian Lara etched his name in record books when he smashed 400 not out against England to set the record for highest individual score in Test cricket on April 12, 2004. Lara sent England fielders on a leather hunt as he hit 43 fours and four sixes during the marathon innings. The record that he made 18 years ago is still intact.
Lara thus became the first batter to reclaim the record of the highest individual score as he went past Matthew Hayden's 380 with his superlative knock in St. Lucia. Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 helped him surpass Lara's world record of 375 which was also scored against England at the same venue as his 400, exactly 10 years ago in 1994.
West Indies had lost all three games and heading into the fourth Test, the hosts were facing a series whitewash but Lara had other plans as he broke the shackles and reminded the world of his brilliance when he returned to form with an unbeaten 400 to draw the match.
Lara had scored just 100 runs in 3 Tests before this match and there were serious questions raised about his form. However, when the West Indies legend came on to bat at a pitch that had nothing on offer for the bowlers, there was no stopping Lara.
West Indies won the toss and batted first. Chris Gayle gave the side a breezy start and Lara took the crease after Gayle's dismissal and a delayed start to the session after Lunch due to a storm.
By the end of Day 1, Lara helped West Indies finish with 208 for 2 and finished with 86 not out. On Day 2, he scored a triple hundred and West Indies were 595 for 5. On Day 3 he got to 400 and West Indies declared for 751/7. Lara finished his innings two minutes shy of 13 hours for the record. His uneaten 400 included 43 fours and four sixes.
In the process, Lara also became only the second player after Bill Ponsford to score two quadruple-centuries in first-class cricket. Lata announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2007 at the age of 37. His last match was against England on 21 April, 2007 which was played in Barbados.
