David Warner should have had chance to go for 400, says Brian Lara

MUMBAI: West Indies great Brian Lara said Friday that Australia should have let opener David Warner go for his record score of 400 in recent Test against Pakistan.

Australia declared on 589 for three with Warner on 335 — the 10th highest Test score ever — his first triple century. The declaration deprived Warner of a crack at Lara’s all-time high 400 not out, though Australian bowlers quickly tore through Pakistan’s top order in Adelaide and the home side won the Test by an innings and 48 runs to sweep the two-match series.

“I felt that David Warner should have been given an opportunity to go for it,” Lara told a charity event in Mumbai. “I happened to be in Adelaide and I thought it was kind of destiny being there,” added Lara, who added that any team would have wanted to get their opponents batting to wrap up a quick victory.

Warner, who surpassed his previous Test best of 253, reached his triple century off 389 balls. He raced to 335, one more than former Australian captain Mark Taylor’s 334 against Pakistan in 1998 and Donald Bradman’s 334 against England in 1930.

Australia’s best individual innings is Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. Lara expects Warner to get another crack at his record though. “I believe records are meant to be broken, even David Warner may have a next chance,” said Lara. “He is an attacking player who can put your team in a winning position.”