Lara blasts new Test record

Brian Lara put himself back on top of the world yesterday by hammering England for 400 not out.

His mammoth innings came almost exactly 10 years after he hit 375 at the same St John's ground. Yesterday Lara went 25 runs better as the West Indies piled up 751 for five declared, the biggest score in their history. England closed the third day of the fourth Test on 171 for five.

Resuming on 313 not out, Lara passed Matthew Hayden's Test record of 380, set six months ago, before lunch and batted on afterwards for his quadruple century.

He spent 12hr 52min at the crease, facing 582 balls and striking 43 fours and four sixes. Lara, 34, is the first man to set this record twice, though he said it would have been all the sweeter were the West Indies still alive in the series rather than 3-0 down.

He said:'It's a great feeling, but it's dampened a bit by the series result. When I made my double century there was still plenty of time and I started feeling it was possible. Now we're going to press for the win.

'When I scored the 375 I didn't know what to expect; this time I knew it would be very tiring. Hayden must have batted very well against Zimbabwe, it doesn't matter who you're playing, it's very hard. Now I've got my record back I think it would be more appreciated if we can get a more collective achievement.'

England skipper Michael Vaughan said: 'He had that look in his eye when he got to about 150 that made you think he was going to do something special.'

England, weary after 202 overs in the field and downcast at having conceded their largest total ever, were 98 for five before Andrew Flintoff and debutant Geraint Jones shared an unbroken stand of 73.