Whenever Lara walks out to bat at the Antigua Recreation Ground here during the fourth Cable and Wireless Test against Australia, he will need just 56 more runs to overtake Sir Garry as the West Indies’ second highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

Sir Garry, who is also here in Antigua for the launching of the Hall of Fame at the Airport Ground’s Sticky Wicket Pavilion, amassed 8 032 runs in 93 Tests.

But Lara, who celebrated his 34th birthday in Barbados last Friday, now has 7 977 runs in 93 Tests and only need 23 more to become the 11th cricketer and third West Indian to reach the coveted 8 000-mark.

However, the Prince of Port of Spain says personal landmarks are secondary as he is more interested in seeing the West Indies team “do well”.

“As captain, I would like to lead the guys out there and lead them to victory first and foremost but most importantly, I think it is also to play good all-round cricket,” Lara said on the eve of the Test which starts here today.

“We’ve played well in matches but I am very optimistic that we can do it but we need to do it in an all-round capacity,” asserted Lara.

Lara however conceded that joining the 8 000 club, of which Sir Garry and Sir Vivian Richards with a record 8 540 runs are the only West Indians, is only a few strokes away.

“At some point in time, if I continue scoring runs, I am going to get to that landmark if I stay fit and healthy,” Lara remarked.

“But it is not really a factor. I think we got too much on our table right now to worry about personal goals. We got to make sure and play good cricket and my contribution with the bat is of great importance,” Lara contended.

“Of course, I would love to have a big score and go way past 8 000. I am not really interested in just getting to 8 000 or getting to this record or that record,” noted Lara.