Brian Lara told the victorious Australian team they had a responsibility to play their cricket in the best spirit after what is seen as his final Test match in Australia here on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old West Indian batting great became Test cricket's all-time leading runscorer during his first innings 226 of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval and was named man-of-the-match despite Australia's seven-wicket victory to complete a three-Test series whitewash.
Lara received honorary life membership of the South Australian Cricket Association and was invited to speak to the crowd, who have showered him with several standing ovations during the Test match.
There has been criticism of Australia's excessive appealing during this series, where the West Indies have been on the receiving end of some harsh umpiring decisions, although they didn't publicly complain. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne was found not guilty on a dissent charge after being reported by the match umpires when an appeal for a catch was turned down.
Lara raised the spirit of cricket in his 'farewell' speech to Australian cricket. Lara now has a Test aggregate of 11,204 runs at an average of 53.86 in his 121st Test match.