I would say that not even Sachin Tendulkar and I would come close to Carl Hooper's talent: Brian Lara

In his recent publication, Brian Lara expounded on the brilliance of all-rounder Carl Hooper, declaring Hooper to be among the finest cricketers he had ever witnessed. Lara boldly asserted that even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and himself could not rival Hooper's innate talent.

Furthermore, Lara noted that Hooper's statistics as captain were markedly different as compared to when he wasn't at the helm, suggesting that Hooper indeed thrived under the additional responsibility of captaincy. Lara also expressed a tinge of melancholy, observing that it was somewhat anticlimactic that Hooper's true potential was fully realized only during his tenure as captain, and not otherwise.

"Carl was easily one of the best players I've ever seen. I would say that not even Tendulkar and I would come close to that talent. Separate Carl's career from playing to captaining and his numbers are very different. As a captain, he averaged nearly 50, so he enjoyed the responsibility. It's sad that only as a captain did he fulfill his true potential," stated Lara in his new book, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

Notably, Hooper's illustrious 16-year career saw him captaining the team for just one year. However, that singular year brought him remarkable success, with his performance statistics significantly surpassing his other years. In 37 innings as captain, Hooper amassed 1,609 runs at an impressive average of 45.97, while his average as a non-captain plummeted to 33.76.

Lara also observed that the legendary West Indian captain, Vivian Richards, harbored fondness for Hooper. Despite Richards projecting a tough and rigid demeanor on the field, Lara noted that his exterior belied his true nature, as he genuinely desired others to succeed. Lara asserted that Richards's affection for Carl was significantly greater than for himself. Furthermore, Lara remarked that Richards's manner of expressing affection did not resonate with Hooper.

Also Read: 'I remember dropping Rishabh Pant' - [Exclusive] Tim Paine reflects on hard to forget moments from Border Gavaskar Trophy 

"Viv Richards never cried down on a person because he didn't want them to be great like him. His sternness was who he was, but he never wanted you not to do well. It was just how he was. And look, Viv loved Carl. Much more than he loved me, that's for sure. But the way Viv shows love didn't resonate with Carl," mentioned Lara.

Also Read: Reports: Hardik Pandya informs BCCI to remain unavailable for ODI leg of Sri Lanka tour due to personal reasons