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Records Don't Mean Anything to Me – Lara

Records Don't Mean Anything to Me – Lara

Wednesday 16th April, 2008 13

ecords don’t mean any- against the Leeward Islands, though, is that Fifteen-year-old Ryan Harrison… thing to me.” It was revealed that there they pick up “Rstrange to hear such a was no “clandes- some momen- statement from , a man tine” plot to eject tum and who has set the benchmark for him from the crush Sri Wins first U.S. Clay international excellence on so team Lanka and many occasions and who walked when he retired show their away from the game a year ago last year. dominance in Court Championship with most of them still intact. “I left of my own voli- the last One The world record-holder was tion. I’ve enjoyed playing () Day speaking during the Trinidad and for the West Indies and I just International since 2002 Tobago Cricket Board-hosted func- thought it was time the West in preparation tion held in his honour on Sunday Indies team moved on under a for the tough HOUSTON (AP) - Fifteen-year-old Ryan Harrison beat night at Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s. new leader,” he said, pointing out series against of Uruguay 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Clay Court “(I had) one more match to 300, that there was a considerable gen- .” Championship on Monday to become the 10th player in forty-something more runs to eration gap in the team. And the Open Era to win a main-draw match before his 16th 12,000, Tendulkar was just around The events leading up to the Lara was birthday. the corner in hundreds,” went disastrous tour of South Africa in happy Harrison is also the youngest player to get a main- Lara’s rationale. “I was lucky to 1998, when West Indies lost all to draw win on the ATP tour since , the current have achieved so much individual- five Tests, were described by Lara No. 2 in the world, won his first tour match in Mallorca in ly and very unlucky not to achieve as the lowest point of his career. 2002, and the third player this decade to do it before his much as a team.” “That was definitely my low- 16th birthday. of France was 15 when he won his was not my first match in Monte Carlo in 2002. best Harrison, who will turn 16 on May 7, won 17 of 18 score. points during one stretch of the first set. He closed out Records don’t (The) the set on his first opportunity by breaking Cuevas’ serve 213 (in at 15. In the second set, he faced only one break point. He broke Cuevas, who is ranked 95th in the world, in the fourth game of the final set and closed out the match on four straight points - including an to open mean his service game. He yelled, “Yeah” and pumped his fists a few times while looking toward his family in the crowd. “You always want to feel like you can win,” Harrison told the crowd after the victory. “To go out and make it happen is another thing.” A short time later, he admitted he hasn’t yet grasped anything the significance of his win. “I’m pretty sure when I get alone by myself later, probably just laying around the hotel, it’ll really kind of sink in what’s happened,” the teenager said. “Hopefully, I can keep it going.” to me – Lara Next up could be top-seeded , who plays wild card Kei Nishikori of Japan in a first-round match The former West Indies bats- est period and something that I have contributed to West Indies scheduled for Wednesday. Two months ago, Blake lost to man and delivered a mov- definitely regret, and I wished Jamaica) the week before that cricket for 17 years. Nishikori in three sets in the final at Delray Beach, ing and philosophical look at his that both parties could have han- against Australia was definitely “I created hope, maybe hope Florida. career, and the many moments dled it a lot better,” he revealed, the best I’ve ever batted under the that was unfounded...impossible, Harrison started playing when he was 2, and was and people that helped shape him referring to the dispute between circumstances.” but I created hope when there was coached by his father, Pat Harrison, a club pro. The into the player he became. the players and the West Indies Lara described his poor none. I tried my best to teach all younger Harrison was ranked No. 7 in the world in jun- Those included Sir Garfield Cricket Board (WICB) just days returns as West Indies captain a the young players I played with iors. Sobers, Clive Lloyd and Joey before the tour started. “major hurt for me” and lauded what international cricket is all He entered the match on Monday ranked No. 1,277 Carew and family, among many Ironically, it was the subse- the current Windies team for about, what West Indies cricket is in men’s world rankings and was expected to improve others. quent home Test series against their recent Test win and subse- all about. that to about No. 704. “It’s been great playing cricket Australia he deemed his high quent “...Of course, I would have “It gives you a wake-up call that you can play that for you,” he further explained his point, when he was placed on pro- series triumph over Sri Lanka at loved to walk on a cricket field level,” Harrison said. “Whenever you actually make statement. “That’s why I played bation for two Tests as West the Queen’s Park Oval last week. with Sir , or something happen like that you feel like, ‘I can do this.”’ the game. I played to entertain. I Indies captain by the WICB, with “...It’s also important to con- behind Clive Lloyd or Sir Frank The only two seeds in action both won. No. 6 Dudi played the game for the people of a “hostile” Jamaican crowd look- gratulate the West Indies on their Worrell, but I believe my period Sela of Israel took out Robby Ginepri of the United the Caribbean, I played the game ing on. wonderful performance. I think to was the 1990s, the early 21st cen- States 7-6 (5), 6-2 and No. 8 Oscar Hernandez of Spain for the fact that it put the smiles “...This was actually the high- actually win it in Trinidad in tury, and I wouldn’t give that up avenged a January loss to Juan Pablo Brzezicki in Chile on the guys (fans) faces.” est point of my career,” Lara stat- front of us was special. The Test for anything.” by overcoming the Argentine 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. And 38-year-old Lara, who has ed. “I’ve always said that 153 (not match and the two one-dayers was Earlier, American beat Spain’s been out of action since suffering out against Australia at special.” Trinidad Express to advance to the second round. Each a fractured arm in January Kensington Oval in Barbados) He added: “What I do hope, player was broken four times in the second before Young closed out the tiebreaker. On the final point of the match, Vicente appeared to give up on a lob that was well within reach. Azharuddin injured In a first-round match that pitted two Americans, Wayne Odesnik beat Amer Delic 6-3, 6-3. Another in accident American, Hugo Armando beat of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Mumbai: Former India cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin sustained minor injures when his car collided with a State transport bus in Navi Mumbai on the outskirts of the metropolis on Sunday. The driver of the Honda City car was also injured, police said. The accident occurred when Azharuddin, along with his two children, was going via Palm Beach Road towards Uran Phata. A Maharashtra State Road Mohammed Azharuddin Transport Corporation bus A case has been regis- dashed against his vehicle, tered by the police. they said. —PTI Ryan Harrison of the returns a shot to Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay during a match in the first round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship Monday, April 14, 2008 in Houston. Harrison, 15, won Flintoff set for Lancs 6-4, 6-3. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) comeback

Lancashire have named England star Andrew Flintoff in a 12-man Smith: India can feel squad for their opening Championship game. The all-rounder, 30, who had his fourth ankle operation last disappointed October, returned to action in pre-season but missed out on the MCC’s game against Sussex. Graeme Smith remained The Proteas allowed Ishant He is set to face Surrey in a four-day game at the Oval starting upbeat after South Africa’s loss in Sharma and Sreesanth to add 37 on Wednesday. the third Test in Kanpur and refused vital runs to India’s lead for the final Flintoff is aiming to play in the first Test against New Zealand on to feel bitter about the result, but he on day three, and Smith felt 15 May but England coach says he will not rush him did allow himself a snide remark at that this was one of two turning back into the fold. the Indian side. points in the match. The hero of the 2005 Ashes success has not played in any of The hosts wrapped up an eight- “We were also not as good with England’s past 13 Tests wicket victory on the third day of the the ball as we have been in the because of injury, and only final Test to secure a draw in the series,” he said. “We were a little bit four of their last 18 one-day series, but Smith hinted that his too anxious to bowl India out internationals. opposition would have reason to instead of just bowling in the right But he resumed his feel disappointed. areas. Today India proved that if bowling duties during “If we were playing India at you just got the ball in the right ’s pre-season home, and it was 1-1 we would be areas there is enough up there in tour of the United Arab sitting in our dressing room a touch the wicket for you. We let ourselves Emirates. disappointed,” he said. down slightly. Lancashire cricket man- However, the losing skipper “When you are playing on a ager Mike Watkinson said: refrained from moaning about an wicket like this, the margins are “He is looking fit and strong underprepared Green Park wicket, very small. We were 30 runs short and we are really keen on in direct contrast to ’s in the first innings. That and India’s Swimming star Michael Phelps, winner of six golds and two bronze medals at the him playing a full part in our reaction in Mumbai in 2004, and getting a lead like that were the two 2004 Olympic Games, poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit in opening fixture of the sea- instead highlighted where his side big swinging points in the Test Chicago, Monday, April 14, 2008. (AP) Andrew Flintoff son.” had gone wrong. match.” (cricket365.com)

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