Hello Everyone, you know that I am a huge fan of Cricket. Cricket is a sport with a vivid history with thousands of memories. It has produced many great players, who revolutionized the game and sealed their names on the elite list.
So, I have started an article series to talk about Cricket Greats from different countries, their carriers, and their impact on the game. You can read my precious editions about Cricket Greats in Sri Lankaand in Austraila. Today let's talk about West Indies.
West Indies has a Vintage history, especially from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. They dominated the field and it was a nightmare for many teams to face these legends. So, it's very hard to pick 3 from this team. Anyway, let's see and these are just my personal preferences.
Sir Viv Richards
He is considered as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and one of the most dominant and aggressive players to have ever played for the West Indies cricket team. He played for West Indies in 121 Test matches between 1974 and 1991 and scored 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23. And also represented the team in 187 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and scored 6,721 runs at an average of 47.00.
Sir.Viv Richards in 1990 against England, Via Getty Images
He is a fearless batsman and didn't wear a helmet even before deadly fast bowlers at that time. He had excellent footwork and scored runs all around the ground. His Test century from 56 balls remained a record for many years. He was a key member of the world cup winning side in 1975 and 1979. And captained the team from 1984-1991 for 50 Tests and never lost a single series. He is an inspiration for many and was knighted in 1999 and was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.
Brian Lara
The Prince of Port of Spain''/ The Prince is his nickname by Cricket world, for his excellency. He is well-known for his versatile, elegant, and stylish batting and his ability to play long innings. He represented the West Indies in 131 Test matches between 1990 and 2007 and scored 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88. He also played for the team in 299 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and scored 10,405 runs at an average of 40.48.
Celebratin his hundred in 1995, via Getty Images
He still hold the record of the highest Individual score in Tests. He scored 400 runs notout against England in 2004. And he is the only player to score 500 runs in a first-class cricket inning. His footwork is excellent and he is consistent throughout his career, against both spin and pace in any condition. Great Murali has named him as his toughest opponent to bowl at. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2012.
Sir Clive Hubert Lloyd
The man who led the golden era of the West Indies. He is one of the greatest captains and a player of all time. He converted the West Indies team in the late 1980s to become dominant in the world. He played for the West Indies cricket team between 1966 and 1985, captaining the team from 1974 to 1985. He is an aggressive left-handed batsman who scored 7,515 runs in 110 Test matches at an average of 46.67. And in 87 One Day Internationals, he scored 2,068 runs at an average of 42.18.
Clive Hubert Lloyd in 1980, via Getty Images by Phil Walter / Staff
He lead the team to win both 1975 and 1979 world cups,and 1984 champions trophy. He had 26 matches Test matches without a defeat as a captain and 11 consecutive wins. He was inducted into Hall of fame in 2009.
- Unforgettable List - Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Richie Richardson, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle
So, that's my second episode. Wait for the next one!!
Until the next time!
Thank You!
Best Regards!