Lara best left hander I played against: Ganguly

Kolkata, Feb 2: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today said West Indian legend Brian Lara was the greatest left-hander he had come across. Asked whom did he consider the greatest left-hander of all time, Ganguly said, "As a young cricketer, I looked up to David Gower... The Englishman was my favourite initially. "But from the cricketers I have seen and played against, I think (Brian) Lara is the best left-hander ever," Ganguly said at a book release function here today. The former cricketer also rated Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar as his all-time favourites. "It's always good to watch them play." Asked to pick the best shot he played, Ganguly remembered a six off New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns in an ODI in Gwalior which he helped India win with an unbeaten 153 on November 11, 1999. "I was in full flow, having scored a century. Cairns bowled a yorker to me and I hit it for a six. I initially felt that I had holded out but I could not believe my eyes when the ball soared over the ropes. "I was not able to repeat that shot again in my career. I consider that as the best ever (stroke)," Ganguly recalled. Post-retirement, the Bengal ace joked that he was getting bored. "It's been two-and-half months now. I think cricket life was much better," Ganguly said. PTI

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