Shahid Afridi has named Brian Lara as the toughest batsman he has ever had to bowl at in an interview with Wisden Cricket Monthly.
The pair only faced off twice in Test cricket, in 2005, when Lara was coming towards the end of his career, but the elegant left-hander was able to have quite the impact. Pakistan and West Indies drew the series 1-1, with Lara making a century in each Test, the first of which came at better than a run a ball.
The former Pakistan all-rounder said that while he was able to have some success against the legendary West Indian, the “effect” the batsman had on him with his attacking mindset made him a particular challenge to bowl at.
“He was a world-class batsman who dominated the best spinners he came up against, even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka,” said Afridi. “His footwork against spinners was brilliant and the way he batted against such bowlers was a wonderful sight. He was sheer class.”
