Watch: Brian Lara copped a few sledges from the Aussie close-in fielders, including skipper Steve Waugh, and lashed back with his strokes instead of words in this famous Test match from 2003.

West Indies had lost the first three Tests of this 2003 home series against the world-beating Australian side, but a seven-wicket haul from Jermaine Lawson helped them bowl the Aussies out for 240 in the first innings of the St John’s Test.

Reduced to 73-3 in their first innings, West Indies batting great Brian Lara was welcomed to the crease with a slew of sledges by Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh. After David Shepherd, the on-field umpire, separated Lara and Waugh, the West Indian went on to play three riveting shots to lash back at the Aussies. He was dismissed for 68, having set the tone for a remarkable Test match.

West Indies went on to equal Australia’s score before the visitors piled on the runs in the second innings. Set to chase down a mammoth 418 to win the Test, West Indies went on to record the highest fourth-innings run chase in Test history, a record that stands till date.

Watch Lara’s exchange with Waugh and the aggressive shots that followed:

Brian Lara turns 52 today! 🎉

One of the most riveting passages of play i’ve seen

Lara walks out to some ‘words’ from Hayden, Lara responds with a scorching 6 1st ball

Steve Waugh comes into silly mid on, no helmet, to have more ‘words’, Lara responds with 3 unbelievable shots pic.twitter.com/nDFI6OFTkW

— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) May 2, 2021

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