Bridgetown (Barbados), April 24 (IANS-CMC) New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has hailed West Indies ace batsman Brian Lara as one of the greatest entertainers of modern cricket.

'He's always been a wonderful player and a wonderful ambassador for the game as well. He's played the game in a very good spirit and played in an entertaining way. I heard him give a quote saying he wanted to be an entertainer and he was everything and more in that sense,' said Fleming, New Zealand's long-serving captain.

'He was a player that created interest in New Zealand and around the world.

'From a left-hander's point of view he was inspirational, a wonderful player to watch and play against. I am sad to see him go.'

Lara retired from international cricket following West Indies' narrow one-wicket loss to England in the final Cricket World Cup, Super Eight match at Kensington Oval Saturday.

One of the West Indies' second round defeats included a solid, seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of the Kiwis.

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