Brian Lara, one of West Indies’ cricketing greats, has spoken out on Carl Hooper, his ex-teammate. As a batsman Karl was much more talented than both Sachin Tendulkar and I.
Brian Lara expanded on Hooper’s exceptional skills while emphasizing his outstanding leadership as captain and the major role he played in vital games.
Lara writes in his latest book titled “Lara: A Chronicle of England” that “Karl certainly belongs to the category of top players I have ever seen. Even Tendulkar and me could not compare ourselves with him. Talent.”
“Karl’s career numbers were so different, from playing football to being a captain. He averaged almost 50 as a captain so he enjoyed it. It’s just too bad that only when he became the skip this happened Only at that stage can you truly reach your full potential,” Laura explained.
Laura remembered how Hooper had been instrumental in saving the third Test match against England at Lord’s in June 1991 after West Indies had suffered an uncommon loss Headingley their first defeat to England away since 1969.
“If I look back at that big game its Carl Hooper quality which comes through most vividly, what a player man The senior fellows would stop whatever they were doing Haynes, Richards, Greenidge those guys would stop their activities to watch him because when Carr came out it felt like we are enjoying it.” Laura shared.
Laura also recounts some psychological problems faced by Hooper including Viv Richards’ impact possibly affecting Hooper’s play. He mentioned instances where Richards overshadowed other players in terms of talent and potential including times when Hooper struggled with not recognizing vices possessed by Richards himself.
“He was very talented but didn’t understand how good he really was. People might say why didn’t you express yourself fully using your talents? No explanation though However let me tell you one thing; Viv can make Carl cry once a week and he yells at him in a way that is terrifying. It is personal to me and I am very close to them so when I see this happening, as soon as we walked off the field together and into his hands and running all these words through my head because I know what is coming next, Carl can take it from there,” Laura added.
