KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters)
Record-breaking batsman Brian Lara is past his best, according to former West Indies great Everton Weekes.

Weekes believes the career of the 32-year-old Trinidadian left-hander, who holds the record for the highest individual scores in Test and first-class cricket, has been severely affected by injuries. "We have now seen the best of Lara, and it's unfortunate to say that," Weekes said on local radio via telephone from his home in Barbados on Monday.

"He depends heavily on footwork, but his movement has been hindered by injuries," the 76-year-old added. "At age 31 or 32 you are a better player, but you will not get the number of runs you got when you were 24. Lara is a great batsman, but so many things have gone amiss during his career."

In 1994, Lara broke the two most prestigious individual batting records in the sport, scoring 375 in a Test match against England and 501 for Warwickshire in a County Championship game against Durham.

Weekes, who retired in 1958 after scoring 4455 runs in 48 Tests at an average of 58.61, holds the world record for scoring five successive Test hundreds, against India in 1948-49. He was one of the three Ws, along with Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott, who dominated West Indies cricket in the 1950s.

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