Statistics might soon suggest Glenn McGrath has been the best bowler in World Cup history but Brian Lara, a well-qualified judge, does not agree. McGrath claimed 3 for 31 against West Indies on Wednesday to take his World Cup tally to 54 wickets – one short of Wasim Akram’s mark – from four campaigns.

Should McGrath break the record in the next game he will have hit the mark from 33 matches – three fewer than it took Akram to reach 55 dismissals. Lara, however, knows who he would rather take guard against. "For me over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket, Tests and one-day internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I've ever faced," he told AFP.

"If you play a number of World Cup matches - McGrath has been to the final in the last three World Cups, 1996, 1999 and 2003 - that means he has played a lot of games. But it doesn't take away from the fact he is an outstanding fast bowler and he deserves to be up there with the very best."