From Trinidad to the history books: The rise of Brian Charles Lara

1969: Born 2 May in Santa Cruz, Trinidad. Youngest of seven brothers in a family of 11.

1984: Plays Under-19 representative cricket at the age of 15.

1987: Makes first-class debut. Captains West Indies Under-23.

1988: Leads West Indies to first Youth World Cup in Australia.

1990: Makes Test debut against Pakistan in Lahore.

1993: Scores first Test century against Australia in Sydney. Goes on to score 273.

1994: Makes highest Test score of 375 against England in Antigua. Joins Warwickshire. First to score seven centuries in eight first-class innings. Hits 501 not out for Warwickshire, the highest score in first-class cricket. County wins County Championship, Benson & Hedges Cup and Sunday League.

1995: Announces retirement at a team meeting during tour of England after a row with then captain Richie Richardson. Threatens to quit, saying "cricket is ruining my life".

1996: International Player of the Year.

1997: Returns to Warwickshire as captain for 1998 season.

1998: Named West Indies captain after they lose Test series in Pakistan. Sacked as captain after a pay dispute with cricket board puts tour to South Africa in jeopardy. Reinstated as captain and tour goes ahead after four days of talks.

1999: South Africa whitewash West Indies. After Australia bowl out West Indies for 51 in Trinidad, Lara scores 213 to win second Test in Jamaica and 153no to win third Test in Barbados; series drawn 2-2. West Indies knocked out of World Cup in England in group stages.

2000: West Indies lose both Tests and all five one-dayers in New Zealand. Resigns captaincy and chooses to miss home series with Zimbabwe and Pakistan. Included in squad to tour England. West Indies lose 3-1, Lara averaging 26.55.

2001: Hits 688 runs on Sri Lanka tour, including 221, but West Indies lose series 3-0.

2003: West Indies go out of the World Cup in pool stage. Regains captaincy for home series against Australia, which is lost 3-1. Then wins series at home to Sri Lanka 1-0. An innings of 299 helps Lara to a series average of 149.50. West Indies win series in Zimbabwe but lose series in South Africa.

2004: After England go 3-0 up, to win first series in Caribbean since 1968, hits 400no in fourth Test in Antigua to become second player in Tests to score two triple-centuries and breaks Matthew Hayden's record Test score of 380.