ISLAMABAD – On this day in 2004, Brian Lara smashed 400 not out againstEngland in St John’s to set the record for the highest individual score ina Test innings. In the process, Lara also became the first batsman toreclaim the record of the highest individual score as he snatched thatrecord away from Matthew Hayden.

Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 helped him surpass Lara’s worldrecord of 375 which was also scored against England at the same venue ofhis 400, exactly 10 years ago in 1994.

In the 2004 four-match series, the home team West Indies were already 3-0down and hosts were staring at a whitewash. It was then that Lara, theskipper, decided to take the matters in his own hands.

On a batting-friendly pitch, the southpaw won the toss and decided to batfirst. Chris Gayle gave West Indies a breezy start but he fell at thestroke of lunch and what followed the dismissal was a batting lesson.

Lara began cautiously as bowlers started to tire out on the flat pitch. Bythe end of Day 1 he had made 86 not out, by the end of the second day hewas on 313. On Day 3, it was in the 202nd over that Lara hit Gareth Battyfor a single to bring up his 400. The left-handed batsman batted for twominutes shy of 13 hours for the record. He faced 582 deliveries and hit 43fours and four sixes.

West Indies declared their innings at 751/7. In reply, England crumbledagainst spinner Pedro Collin’s four-wicket haul that helped Windies toenforce the follow-on, however, there wasn’t much time left in the matchfor Lara’s team to press for a win.