10 great bowlers and their most feared batsmen

8. Anil Kumble – Brian Lara

Anil Kumble’s contributions for Indian cricket is a feat in itself and can largely be unmatched. However, the legendary spinner did name Brian Lara as the toughest he came across while playing for India in an interview with Pommie Mbangwa.

Brian Lara was an elegant stroke maker who probably had every shot in his book and could dismantle any bowler on any given day. Legends like Warne and Muralitharan often have named him as the toughest to bowl as well.

Here’s what Kumble said “Many batsmen who were very difficult to bowl at. But Brian Lara was probably at the top. He had four different shots to every delivery that you bowled and that was the biggest challenge, you thought you could beat him, you would get him but then he would change his stroke and sort of tap you through the third man.”