Brian Lara marveled at Michael Clarke's rise as 'run machine'

Caribbean great Brian Lara has revealed the first time he met Michael Clarke ten years ago, he had no idea that the now Australia Test team captain would go on to become a run machine for his country in the future.

Lara first met Clarke in the Guyana capital, Georgetown, when the Oz batsman was simply looking for a lift into town, and after seeing the legendary Trinidadian also among the newly arrived at the airport, strolled up to him.

"We were in Guyana many, many years ago and I was a day late and I got off at the airport and this guy asked if I could take him into the city," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lara, as saying.

"I asked him if he was a reporter. It was Michael Clarke. I'm not sure who he was replacing on that tour but somebody got injured," he added.

"We became very, very good friends since then and it's lovely to see the way that he has gone on," he said.

Lara added, "He commanded a place on the Australian team very early and now as captain is leading his team very well. It's wonderful, I think, also the fact that as captain it also enhanced his game."

"That is something that is always an issue, if a guy is going to be given that job, how is he going to handle it, is it going to affect his batting? That seems to be out of the way," he said.

"Obviously his scoring, the double centuries and the triple century, is awesome. Also his focus on winning as well, as the captain, is something that you very much have to very much appreciate it. Putting yourself aside to ensure the team is successful," he further said.