Scoring a century in limited-overs cricket is not for everyone. Tasked with getting runs quickly within a certain amount of time, it’s safe to say that it takes a great amount of talent to get a hundred in 50-over cricket.

Similarly from a bowling perspective, claiming five wickets in one’s allotted 10 overs is not something we see very often.

That said, batters scoring hundreds and bowlers taking five wickets in an ODI match isn’t something that’s unheard of.

However, a player claiming five wickets and scoring a hundred in the same ODI is indeed a rare feat, which not many individuals have managed to achieve,

In fact, it is such a rare feat that only five players have managed to achieve it across men’s and women’s ODI cricket.

West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards was the first individual to do so and here we have a look at all the players with a century and five wickets in the same ODI.

 

Players with century and five wickets in same ODI

 

Sir Vivian Richards | 119 and 5/41 vs New Zealand, 1987

Sir Vivian Richards became the first player to score a century and take five wickets in the same ODI after the first game of West Indies�?four-match away series against New Zealand in 1987. After being put in to bat first, West Indies managed to post 237/9 on the scoreboard with Richards top-scoring courtesy of a 113-ball 119. He then rolled his arm over with the ball and claimed 5/41, taking the crucial wickets of John Wright and Sir Richard Hadlee as the Windies registered a 95-run win.

Paul Collingwood | 112* and 6/31 vs Bangladesh, 2005

In the fourth match of the 2005 Natwest tri-series, England’s Paul Collingwood became the second player to make a hundred and take a five-fer in the same ODI. Batting first against Bangladesh, Collingwood scored an 86-ball 112 and helped England score 391/4 after Andrew Strauss (112) and Marcus Trescothick (85) had also contributed heavily. With the ball, Collingwood proceeded to dismantle Bangldesh’s middle-order and finished with figures of 6/31 as England registered a convincing 168-run win. 

Rohan Mustafa | 109 and 5/25 vs Papua New Guinea, 2017

In the third and final game of a three-match series at home against Papua New Guinea in 2017, UAE’s Rohan Mustafa top-scored for his team with 109 runs after they had decided to bat first. His knock helped them post 251/9 and then during Papua New Guinea’s turn to bat, Mustafa weaved his magic with the ball to claim 5/25 as the visitors were bundled out for 148 and the hosts came away with a 103-run win to seal the series 2-1.

Amelia Kerr | 232* and 5/17 vs Ireland women, 2018

The only woman on this select list of players with a hundred and five wickets in the same ODI, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr smashed a world record 232 not out off 145 balls after the White Ferns had decided to bat first in the third ODI of their three-match series against Ireland in 2018. Her knock helped New Zealand post 440/3 and then during Ireland’s chase, Kerr went on to finish with figures of 5/17 with all her five scalps coming via the bowled dismissal. Her stunning performance gave New Zealand a mammoth 305-run win.

Bas de Leede | 123 and 5/52 vs Scotland, 2023

Bas de Leede joined the club of players with an ODI ton and five wickets in the same game under dramatic circumstances. Up against Scotland with a spot in the 2023 ODI World Cup on the line during a crunch qualifying encounter in Zimbabwe, the Dutch all-rounder smashed a 92-ball 123 to ensure that the Netherlands chased down a target of 278 in less than 45.1 overs, which they needed to do to secure qualification for the World Cup on the basis of net run rate. Earlier he had finished with figures of 5/52 as Scotland managed to post 277/9 on the scoreboard. His all-round performance ensured that the Netherlands secured the final qualification spot for the 2023 World Cup in India.

Photo credit: Alamy

A finisher in cricket refers to a middle-order batter in limited-overs cricket who is responsible for finishing the inning in pressure situations.

In essence, finishers are expected to get their team over the line if they are batting in the second inning. If the finisher is batting in the first inning of a limited-overs game, he is expected to produce a strong finish and accelerate to help the team post a high score.

A few of the prerequisites for being a good finisher in cricket are being calm, maintaining one’s composure, and dealing with pressure situations with clarity of thought besides also being able to execute your shots to hit on the accelerator for your team.

Not all cricketers boast these qualities, which is why it is imperative for teams to correctly identify those individuals who are capable of delivering the goods when needed the most. With that in mind, here’s a closer look at some of the best finishers in cricket both past and present.

Best finishers in cricket

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers, also known as Mr. 360 owing to his ability to smash a ball to every corner of the stadium, is perhaps the best finisher in the history of cricket. Over the course of his career, he has chased down innumerable targets for both his national team South Africa and numerous T20 league franchises. One of the few international players to have a 100-plus strike rate and an average of above 50 in ODIs, de Villiers�?ability to consistently help his teams finish with momentum is unlikely to be matched by many going into the future. He also holds the record for scoring the fastest ODI hundred against West Indies after bringing up his ton in 31 balls.

MS Dhoni

One of the greatest finishers of all-time, India legend MS Dhoni revolutionised the art of closing an inning in limited-overs cricket with aplomb. A firm believer in taking an inning and match as deep as possible, MSD’s ability to win matches off the last over was second to none. Renowned for hitting sixes off the last ball of an inning, Dhoni’s finishing ability wasn’t just appreciated by Indian fans but also by Indian T20 League franchise Chennai, who he led to four Indian T20 League titles and two T20 Champions League trophies. His finishing exploits will probably be most fondly remembered for the 2011 ODI World Cup when he entered the crease with the game hanging firmly in the balance before producing an unbeaten 91 off 79 balls and smashing a six to win India their second 50-over World Cup.

Michael Bevan

A player who was ahead of his time, Michael Bevan can be considered one of the pioneers of finishing in limited-overs cricket even though he never played in T20Is. A lot of cricket fans believe that it was Bevan who was responsible for coining the term finisher. His ability to assess the situation in pressure circumstances and play according to the needs of his team before accelerating in the closing stages of the inning will remain long in the memory of cricket fans in the 1990s and early 2000s. He played a key role in the 1999 and 2003 ODI World Cup, and his average of 53.58 is the best among these finishes on this list.

Sir Vivian Richards

One of the first superstars in cricket history, Sir Vivian Richards amassed more than 15,000 international runs during his 18-year career. He averaged 47 and had a strike rate of 90.20 during an era when such numbers were unheard of. A belligerent batter who set fear in the hearts of bowlers thanks to his destructive style of batting, Sir Vivian Richards could do it all. Whether it was getting his teams off to quick starts or finishing the innings in style for his team, there simply wasn’t anything he could not do. 

Shahid Afridi

Former Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi was known for his explosive batting and aggression with the willow in his hand. He scored more than 8,000 runs in the 50-over format and had a stunning strike rate of 117. Despite starting his career as a top-order batter, Boom Boom Afridi as he was fondly known during his playing days smoothly transitioned into an exquisite finisher toward the fag end of his career. A great six-hitter, there aren’t many players in the game who have hit more sixes than Afridi in international cricket.

Jos Buttler

The only active player on this list, England’s Jos Buttler is your archetypal modern-day finisher. He has a strike rate of almost 120 in ODIs and almost 150 in T20Is. Although he’s a versatile player who is known to open the innings in T20Is, Buttler primarily dons the role of finisher in ODIs. Another monster six-hitter, Buttler is capable of accessing all areas of the ground like de Villiers courtesy of his great strokeplay. With many more years of cricket still ahead of him, Buttler could finish as the greatest finisher of all-time in cricket.

Photo credit: Alamy

Despite the limited scope of batting in a 50-over cricket match, unlike in Tests, the One Day International (ODI) format has seen some magnificent partnerships over the years.

There have been five partnerships of over 300 in ODIs, all of them forged since 1999. Three of these came from 2015, with two exceeding the 350-run mark.

Here are some details about the highest partnerships in ODIs.

Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels �?372 vs Zimbabwe, 2015

Batting first in their pool B match of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup at Canberra against Zimbabwe, West Indies were the clear favourites. However, opener Dwayne Smith was dismissed for a duck in just the second ball and Chris Gayle had to join Marlon Samuels with the score reading 0/1.

The West Indies went on to bat the entire 50 overs. Chris Gayle smashed 215 runs off just 147 balls, hitting 16 sixes, and was dismissed on the last ball of the innings as went for what would have been a record number of maximums by a single player in a match. Marlon Samuels, meanwhile, scored a relatively sedate 133 not out in 156 balls. 

West Indies posted a mammoth 372/2 with Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels recording the highest partnership in ODI to date with 372 runs. The Windies went on to win the match by 89 runs (D/L method).

John Campbell and Shai Hope �?365 vs Ireland, 2019

The second-highest partnership in ODIs is, quite unsurprisingly, attributed to West Indies again. This time, it was in Dublin against Ireland in a tri-nation series in 2019. West Indies were batting first with John Campbell and Shai Hope as the opening pair. Ireland got their first wicket only in the 48th over and by that time West Indies had already put up 365 runs on the board.

While John Campbell scored 179 runs, hitting 15 boundaries and six sixes, in 137 balls, Shai Hope whacked 22 boundaries and two maximums to score 170 runs (152 balls). West Indies put up 381/3 and dismissed Ireland for 185.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid �?331 vs New Zealand, 1999

India’s highest partnership in ODI was forged by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid during New Zealand's tour of India in 1999. After the Kiwis took a 1-0 lead in the first ODI, India were looking to bounce back in the second ODI in Hyderabad. Batting first, Sourav Ganguly was dismissed in the second over when Rahul Dravid joined captain Sachin Tendulkar at the crease.

The duo kept batting till the 48th over, forging a partnership of 331 runs, following which Rahul Dravid was dismissed for a run-a-ball 153, his highest ODI score. Sachin Tendulkar remained unbeaten at the end with 186, which had 20 boundaries and three sixes. India scored 376/2 and wrapped up New Zealand for 202 runs.

ODI partnerships record progression

The first-ever 200-run partnership in ODI was forged in 1979 between West Indies�?Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards against Australia in Melbourne. It was only the 78th ODI. Their second-wicket partnership of 205 runs helped their side reach 271/2. West Indies won the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup match by 80 runs.

It wasn’t until 1999 that the first 300-run partnership was forged. It was India at the helm then with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid putting on 318 for the second wicket against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the ICC World Cup.

India’s first 200-run partnership came in 1996 against Pakistan at Sharjah. Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu (both scored tons) put on a 231-run stand for the second wicket to let India past the 300-run mark for the first time in their ODI history.

Here’s how the partnership records have progressed in ODIs. 

205, Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards, 2nd wicket, WI vs AUS, Melbourne, 1979

221, Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards, 2nd wicket, WI vs IND, Jamshedpur, 1983

224*, Dean Jones and Allan Border, 3rd wicket, AUS vs SL, Adelaide, 1985

263, Aamir Sohail and Inzamam-ul-Haq, 2nd wicket, PAK vs NZ, 1994

275*, Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, 4th wicket, IND vs ZIM, Cuttack, 1998

318, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, 2nd wicket, IND vs SL, Taunton, 1999

331, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, 2nd wicket, IND vs NZ, Hyderabad, 1999

372, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, 2nd wicket, WI vs ZIM, Canberra, 2015

Highest partnerships in ODIs

Players	Partnerships	Wicket	Match
Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels	372	2nd	West Indies vs Zimbabwe, 2015
John Campbell and Shai Hope	365	1st	West Indies vs Ireland, 2019
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid	331	2nd	India vs New Zealand, 1999
Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid	318	2nd	India vs Sri Lanka, 1999
Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman	304	1st	Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2018
Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das	292	1st	Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 2020
Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli	290	2nd	India vs Bangladesh, 2022
Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya	286	1st	Sri Lanka v England, 2006
David Warner and Travis Head	284	1st	Australia vs Pakistan, 2017
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla	282*	1st	South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2017
Upul Tharanga and Tilakratne Dilshan	282	1st	Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2011

Highest partnerships in ODIs by each wicket

Players	Wicket	Partnerships	Match
John Campbell and Shai Hope	1st	365	West Indies vs Ireland, 2019
Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels	2nd	372	West Indies vs Zimbabwe, 2015
Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin	3rd	258	West Indies vs Bangladesh, 2014
Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja	4th	275*	India vs Zimbabwe, 1998
David Miller and JP Duminy	5th	256*	South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2015
Grant Elliot and Luke Ronchi	6th	267*	New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2015
Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid	7th	177	England vs New Zealand, 2015
Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall	8th	138*	South Africa vs India, 2006
Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga	9th	132	Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2010
Vivian Richards and Michael Holding	10th	106*	West Indies vs England, 1984

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Manan Vatsyayana 

To score a fifty and claim a five-wicket haul in an ODI is considered to be an exceptional achievement for any cricketer. Till date, only 22 cricketers have registered a fifty and five wickets in an ODI. 

West Indies cricket legend Viv Richards was the first cricketer to achieve the rare feat. During the first ODI of the West Indies tour of New Zealand in 1987, Richards smashed 119 off just 113 balls to help the visitors post 237/9 in their allotted 50 overs. The West Indies captain followed it up by picking five wickets for just 41 runs in his quota of 10 overs to bundle out New Zealand for 142 in Dunedin. West Indies won the match by 95 runs.

Kris Srikkanth was the first Indian cricketer and second overall to register a fifty and five wickets in an ODI. 

Electing to field, India rode on Srikkanth’s 5/27 to restrict New Zealand to 196/9 in their 50 overs. In reply, the swashbuckling Indian opening batter scored 70 off 87 balls to guide India to a four-wicket win in Visakhapatnam.

Former Australia all-rounder Mark Waugh was the third player to achieve the accomplishment of scoring a fifty and bagging a five-wicket haul in an ODI.

After Australia captain Mark Taylor won the toss and opted to bat, Waugh played an impressive knock of 57 off 70 balls to help the hosts post 198/8 in their 50 overs in Melbourne. Defending a below-par total, Waugh claimed five wickets for just 24 runs to bowl out West Indies for 194.

Apart from Kris Srikkanth, former captain Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh are the other two Indians to accomplish the unique record.

During the fourth ODI of Zimbabwe’s tour of India in 2000, Ganguly bagged five wickets for 34 runs in his 10 overs to bowl out the visitors for 165 in Kanpur. In reply, the India captain scored an unbeaten 71 to power India to a nine-wicket victory.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh scored a fifty and picked five wickets against Ireland during an ICC Cricket World Cup match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in 2011.

After the left-arm spinner recorded figures of 10-0-31-5 to bowl Ireland out for 207, the southpaw followed it up with an unbeaten half-century (50) to help the hosts claim a five-wicket win.

Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has achieved the feat three times - the most by any player in international cricket. Afridi recorded the incredible milestone against England, Sri Lanka and West Indies in his ODI career.

Namibia’s JJ Smit is the latest entrant to the elile list of players that have scored a fifty and got a five-wicket haul in the same ODI. The Namibia captain scored 56 and later claimed 5/26 to help his team beat Oman by 40 runs during an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter in Windhoek in 2021.

A fifty and five wickets in an ODI

Player	Bat	Bowl	Opposition	Ground	Year
Viv Richards (West Indies)	119	5/41	New Zealand	Dunedin	1987
Kris Srikkanth (India)	70	5/27	New Zealand	Visakhapatnam	1988
Mark Waugh (Australia)	57	5/24	West Indies	Melbourne	1992
Lance Klusener (South Africa)	54	6/49	Sri Lanka	Lahore	1997
Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan)	70*	5/48	India	Hobart	2000
Graeme Hick (England)	80	5/33	Zimbabwe	Harare	2000
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	61	5/40	England	Lahore	2000
Sourav Ganguly (India)	71*	5/34	Zimbabwe	Kanpur	2000
Scott Styris (New Zealand)	63*	6/25	West Indies	Port of Spain	2002
Ronnie Irani (England)	53	5/26	India	The Oval	2002
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	60	5/46	Australia	St George's	2003
Paul Collingwood (England)	112*	6/31	Bangladesh	Nottingham	2005
Sunil Dhaniram (Canada)	79	5/32	Bermuda	King City (NW)	2008
Yuvraj Singh (India)	50*	5/31	Ireland	Bengaluru	2011
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	75	5/35	Sri Lanka	Sharjah	2011
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	76	7/12	West Indies	Providence	2013
Josh Davey (Scotland)	53*	6/28	Afghanistan	Abu Dhabi	2015
Paul Stirling (Ireland)	95	6/55	Afghanistan	Greater Noida	2017
Rohan Mustafa (UAE)	109	5/25	PNG	Abu Dhabi	2017
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)	51	5/29	Afghanistan	Southampton	2019
Simi Singh (Ireland)	54*	5/10	UAE	Abu Dhabi	2021
JJ Smit (Namibia)	56	5/26	Oman	Windhoek	2021

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Established in 1814, the Lord’s Cricket Ground is a stadium located in St. John’s Wood in London.

Commonly known as Lord’s, the venue is named after its founder Thomas Lord, who was an English professional cricketer. Thomas Lord played first-class cricket from 1787 to 1802 before making a comeback in one more match in 1815.

Owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Lord’s Cricket Ground is also referred to as the Home of Cricket.

Lord’s is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the European Cricket Council (ECC). It was also home to the International Cricket Council (ICC) until August 2005.

With a seating capacity of over 31,000, the iconic venue also features the world's oldest sporting museum.

It is one of the oldest cricket venues across the world, having staged its first Test between England and arch-rivals Australia in 1884. Since then, Lord’s has hosted 142 Test matches, 70 ODIs and 10 T20Is so far.

The Indian cricket team has played eight ODIs at Lord’s, winning four while suffering three defeats. One match was tied.

India have also featured in 19 Tests and one T20I encounter at this venue previously.

Here, we look at some ODI records and stats at the Lord’s:

Lord’s ODI records and stats

Highest team total: The England cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in ODI cricket at the Lord’s. During the 1975 Prudential World Cup, England rode on Dennis Amiss�?137 off 147 balls, Keith Fletcher’s 68 and Chris Old’s unbeaten 51 to post 334/4 in their allotted 60 overs. In reply, India could only manage 132/3 in their 60 overs. England won the match by 202 runs.

In the 50-over format, England’s 328/6 against Ireland back in 2017 is the highest team total at Lord’s posted.

Lowest team total: South Africa cricket team registered the lowest ODI team total at Lord’s during the NatWest Series final in 2003. After England elected to field, the hosts bundled out South Africa for 107 in 32.1 overs. James Anderson was the wrecker-in-chief for England as he picked up three wickets for 50 runs in his quota of 10 overs. In response, England chased down the target in 20.2 overs and secured a dominant seven-wicket win.

Highest individual score: Former West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards recorded the highest individual score in ODI cricket at the Lord’s. The swashbuckling batter scored an unbeaten 138 off 157 balls against hosts England in 1979. Richards�?innings was laced with eleven fours and three sixes.

Best bowling figures: Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi posted the best bowling figures at this venue in 50-over cricket. The left-arm fast bowler registered figures of 6/35 against Bangladesh during a 2019 Cricket World Cup encounter at the Lord’s. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s incredible spell helped Pakistan secure a 94-run victory.

Most runs: Former England opening batter Marcus Trescothick has amassed the most ODI runs at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The southpaw scored 595 runs in 13 matches at an average of 49.58 and a strike rate of 79.33. He smashed three hundreds and two fifties at this venue in ODIs. Vivian Richards is second on the list with 524 runs in nine matches at an average of 87.33.

Most wickets: Former England fast bowler Darren Gough has picked the most wickets at this iconic venue in ODIs. The right-arm pacer claimed 27 wickets in 18 ODIs at an economy of 4.47. His best bowling figures at the venue was 5/44 against Australia in 1997. James Anderson is second on the list with 19 wickets in 16 matches.

Highest partnership: England’s Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff hold the record for the highest partnership at the Lord’s in ODI cricket. The former England duo forged a 226-run partnership for the fourth wicket against West Indies in an ODI in 2004. While all-rounder Flintoff smashed 123 off 104 balls, Strauss scored 100 off 116 balls to help England post 285/7 in their 50 overs. However, Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 132 powered West Indies to a dominant seven-wicket victory at Lord’s.

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Former West Indies cricket captain Sir Clive Lloyd is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational leaders the sporting world has ever seen.

Born on August 31, 1944 in Georgetown, British Guiana, Clive Lloyd was an athletics champion at the school level and this winning mentality made him a champion at cricket too.

He made a mark in world cricket through his outstanding batting skills and also because of his impeccable leadership qualities. It was under his captaincy that the West Indies team dominated cricket for over a decade in the 1970s and 1980s. 

Between 1974 and 1985, Clive Lloyd helped the Caribbean side become the most successful Test-playing nation in the world. He had led the West Indies team in three World Cups, winning the first two editions of the quadrennial tournament.

#OnThisDay 44 years ago, Clive Lloyd led West Indies to a 17-run victory against Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup Final on June 21, 1975. Do you have any memories of this match? pic.twitter.com/VoZeN1hGHH

�?Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 21, 2019

Clive Lloyd’s captaincy record

Under Clive Lloyd’s captaincy, the star-studded West Indies side had enjoyed a 27-match unbeaten streak in Test cricket, which included 11 wins on the trot �?only a solitary match during this phase was captained by Viv Richards. 

In the early 1980s, the West Indies team was filled with some unparalleled talents like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and devastating fast bowlers like Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Andy Roberts and Colin Croft, who remained the best at their trade for a long time. 

The 6�?�?Clive Lloyd commanded the West Indies to 36 Test victories in 74 matches with only 12 defeats coming under his leadership. 

Lloyd is the fourth most successful Test captain in terms of matches won, after Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh (41), and remains the most successful West Indies captain in Test matches.

Lloyd’s men were quite brilliant in the ODI format as well, where they had won a staggering 64 games out of 84 matches with a win percentage of 77.71.

While Ponting, Waugh and later MS Dhoni were all said to have inherited a talented bunch of individuals, who eventually made the team worldbeaters, former England skipper Allan Lamb believes West Indian Clive Lloyd tops all of them.

“Everyone said he (Lloyd) had the best side, but he made the best side and for captain, you gotta have respect and you go to be winning and you got to have team support�? getting the best out of your team, he led that team the best,�?Lamb said in an interview with Cricket Addictor.

Uniting the Caribbean to be world beaters

Clive Lloyd and Ricky Ponting are the two most successful captains of ICC World Cup as they have won it twice for their respective countries. Clive Lloyd had achieved the feat of lifting two consecutive World Cups in 1975 and 1979, which Ponting replicated in 2003 and 2007.

Who do you think will lift the in 2019? pic.twitter.com/NyCJARgH3F

�?ICC (@ICC) May 8, 2019

One of Clive Lloyd’s biggest successes was getting together individuals from various Caribbean countries for the sole purpose of becoming the best cricket team. Having such a diverse culture at his disposal, Lloyd saw it as an opportunity to cherry pick the best players to build the West Indies team he wanted.

Just like former India captain Sourav Ganguly had formed a winning combination for India during his tenure with the right blend of youth, vigour and experience, Lloyd had done it for the Windies in the 1970s.

“I wanted my team to be the best batting team, the best bowling team and the best fielding team. And I wanted to be the best captain,�?Lloyd told English author Simon Lister.

“The first thing you must do is create the right mindset in the players and instil the right values. You then have to emphasise the importance of fitness, physical skills, especially mastery of the basic skills, as well as mental skills like clear thinking, concentration, self-discipline, handling pressure, dealing with different game situations and continuous learning,�?he added.

Read: West Indies cricket players: Inspirations of each era

Clive Lloyd the batsman

Apart from being a great manager, Clive Lloyd was a prolific middle-order batsman as well. As a player, he has tallied 7,515 runs in 110 Test matches at an average of 46.67. In the One-Day International format, the left-handed batsman has 1,977 runs in 87 games at an average of 39.54.

7,515 runs at an average of 46.67 - #OnThisDay in 1966, Clive Lloyd made his Test debut pic.twitter.com/UAOS1VJLXx

�?ICC (@ICC) December 13, 2015

One of his most memorable knocks is the double ton he scored in Mumbai to set up a series win against India. In the 1974-75 tour of India, the Guyanese scored an unbeaten 242 to help West Indies claim the fifth and final Test by 201 runs. He won the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1971. 

Clive Lloyd, who was also involved in cricket as an ICC match referee from 2001 to 2006, was later inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009. He received knighthood in 2020.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @ICC

Since gaining the Test status in 1928, West Indies cricket players have captured the imagination of the cricketing world with their unique flair and finesse. The West Indies cricket team has a rich history in the sport and has always been blessed with great players since their early days as a Test-playing nation.

The team has produced great cricketing stars who have graced the game and produced legendary performances across eras. Here are some West Indies cricket players who have been an inspiration to their era:

Learie Constantine: The impact man of West Indies cricket during 1920s

One of the greatest West Indies cricket players to have graced the ‘gentleman’s game�? Learie Constantine was part of the British West Indies squad that toured England in 1923 and 1928. West Indies�?first wicket-taker in Test cricket, Learie Constantine played 18 Test matches before World War II and finished his Test career with 635 runs and 58 wickets. His 5/85 had helped the West Indies secure their first Test victory against England in the British Guiana back then.

However, Learie Constantine’s contribution to world cricket goes well beyond cricket. The West Indies all-rounder was an advocate against racial discrimination and was also instrumental in the passing of the 1965 Race Relations Act in Britain. Learie Constantine was knighted in 1962 and he also became the first black peer of the United Kingdom. He was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1939.

#OnThisDay in 1902, Learie Constantine was born. A West Indies all-rounder, he went on to be a barrister and Trinidad's High Commissioner pic.twitter.com/RlQSDBbkVy

�?ICC (@ICC) September 21, 2016

George Headley: The West Indies legend who almost overshadowed Don Bradman

Hailed as the Black Bradman, George Headley is considered to be one of the greatest cricketers of all time and one of the best batsmen to ever play for the West Indies. Headley played 22 Test matches, mostly before the Second World War and was widely believed to be the second-best batsman after Don Bradman in his playing days. 

#OnThisDay in 1909, Windies legend George Headley was born.

In 22 Tests he scored 2,190 runs at an average of 60.83, including 10 centuries and five fifties, earning him the nickname 'the black Bradman'. pic.twitter.com/XryCuAjIHK

�?ICC (@ICC) May 30, 2018

In international cricket, George Headley had amassed 2,190 runs in just 22 Test matches at a staggering average of 60.83 with 10 hundreds and five fifties. It is the fifth-highest career batting average in the all-time list of averages of players with more than 20 Tests - after Don Bradman, Steve Smith, Adam Voges and Graeme Pollock.

West Indies�?legendary trio of Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell

Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell, known as the Three Ws, formed one of the greatest middle-order combinations between 1948 and 1960. The three legends had played a significant role in changing the face of West Indies cricket with the bat, ball as well as with their gamesmanship.

Among the immortal Three Ws, Everton Weekes was the highest-ranked player. He had scored 4,455 runs in just 48 Test matches at an average of 58.61. Interestingly, Weekes had smashed five consecutive centuries against England and India, which is still a Test record.

On the other hand, Clyde Walcott was arguably the best batsman in the world in the mid-1950s. He had played 44 Test matches, accumulating 3,798 runs at an average of 56.68. Walcott’s match-winning 168 not out had helped the West Indies claim their first-ever Test victory on English soil at the Lord’s in 1950.

Meanwhile, Frank Worrell had played 51 Test matches, scoring 3,860 runs at an average of 49.48 and he had also claimed 69 wickets at an average of 38.72.

Weekes, Walcott and Worrell were later knighted for their incredible services to the sport.

Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon. A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/RnwoJkhjPd

�?Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 1, 2020

Garfield Sobers: Arguably the greatest all-rounder in cricket

Garfield Sobers is widely considered to be cricket’s greatest ever all-rounder, having scored more than 28,000 runs and claiming over 1,000 wickets in 383 First-Class matches.

Having made his Test debut for the West Indies at the age of 17 in 1954, Gary Sobers played 93 Test matches, amassing 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78  and scalping 235 wickets at an average of 34.03.

The southpaw had also established a world record back then for the highest individual score in an innings after he had smashed an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan at the Sabina Park in 1958. His record was later broken by Brian Lara, who had scored 375 against England in 1994. 

The Barbados-born cricketer also became the captain of the West Indies cricket team in 1965, the role which he served until 1972. Sobers was made the skipper of the Rest of the World XI during their tour of England in 1970. Gary Sobers was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

One of the world's greatest cricketers

#OnThisDay in 1973, Sir Garfield Sobers hit his final Test century for @windiescricket at Lord's.#LoveLords

�?Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 24, 2020

Rohan Kanhai: An inspiration to many including Sunil Gavaskar 

Rohan Kanhai was the first Indian-origin cricketer to captain West Indies and the second after Sonny Ramadhin to play for the West Indies. Kanhai is considered to be one of the best batsmen of the 1960s. 

Kanhai accumulated 6,227 runs in the 79 Test matches he had played at an average of 47.53, smashing 15 hundreds and 28 fifties in the longest format of the game. The right-handed batsman had also played seven ODIs, amassing 164 runs at an average of 54.66.

He was an inspiration to many cricketers including Sunil Gavaskar, who had named his son Rohan after the West Indies legend.

A friend's comment just reminded me of the wonderful shared legacy of India West Indies cricket. Both Sunil Narine and Sunil Ambris were named after Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and Rohan Gavaskar in turn was named in honour of the legendary West Indian, Rohan Kanhai.

�?Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) June 27, 2019

The legendary Bob Marley and Kanhai’s teammate Alvin Kallicharran had also named their respective sons after Kanhai.

What connects Sunil Gavaskar and Reggae legend Bob Marley? They named their sons after cricketer Rohan Kanhai!
Both Rohan's have done well. Gavaskar scored nearly 7000 1st class runs & played 11 ODIs. Marley played American football for Miami U & is a startup specialist!

�?Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) November 18, 2019

Rohan was part of the West Indies team that won the inaugural 1975 Cricket World Cup. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.

Clive Lloyd: The man who united West Indies to dominate world cricket

Under the leadership of Clive Lloyd, the West Indies had dominated world cricket for over a decade. Lloyd had captained West Indies between 1974 and 1985, helping them rise as the leading side in Test cricket. He had also led West Indies in three World Cups, winning the first two editions of the quadrennial tournament, and were on course for a hat-trick of world titles if not for a stunning upset by India at the Lord’s in 1983. 

Happy Birthday to one of the finest captains in history, who led West Indies to the @cricketworldcup title in 1975 and 1979 - Clive Lloyd! pic.twitter.com/CsqNabbT5B

�?ICC (@ICC) August 31, 2017

Lloyd had propelled West Indies to 36 Test victories in 74 matches with only 12 defeats coming under his leadership. He is the fourth most successful Test captain in terms of matches won, only behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh (41).

On the other hand, under Lloyd’s leadership in the ODI format, the West Indies had won a staggering 64 games out of 84 matches with a win percentage of 77.71.

The towering West Indian -- Clive Lloyd was 6�?�?-- scored 7,515 runs in 110 Test matches at an average of 46.67. In the One-Day Internationals, the southpaw has amassed 1,977 runs in 87 games at an average of 39.54.

Llyod had won the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1971 and was later inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.

He was knighted for his services to the sport in the 2020 New Year Honours

Viv Richards: The man who destroyed fast-bowlers without helmet

Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is undoubtedly one of the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen. Considered by many to be the most devastating and feared batsman of all time, nothing in cricket could intimidate opponents like the sight of Viv Richards walking out to bat. Cricket fans across the world would wait hours for him to arrive and then go on a rampage, destroying bowlers of his generation. 

Good old days of Cricket

VIV RICHARDS no helmet �?smashing best bowlers around .

Today batting average are very inflated . Take 10 runs off I say . pic.twitter.com/ALfjgoJ3dW

�?@Georgebakhos1 (@GeorgeBakhos1) December 8, 2020

Viv Richards was chosen by Wisden as the greatest ODI batsman of all time, as well as the third greatest Test batsman of all time, after Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar in December 2002.

Richards was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century by a 100-member panel of experts in 2000, along with Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs and Shane Warne.

His consistent match-winning performances resulted in him becoming the first cricketer in ODI history to achieve 20 Man of the Match awards.

He was Man of the Match in the 1979 Cricket World Cup final - Happy Birthday to West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards! pic.twitter.com/D7t7i39jLs

�?Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 7, 2017

Richards scored nearly 7,000 runs in ODIs at a staggering strike rate of over 90 in those days and more than 36,000 runs in First-Class cricket. He had also featured in 121 Tests, amassing more than 8,000 runs at an average of more than 50.

The former West Indies skipper was knighted for his contribution to the game in 1999. Richards was also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.

Brian Lara: West Indies cricket legend who holds several world records

Once invincible in Test cricket and the 50-overs format, the West Indies cricket team had lost their aura by the 1990s. However, while their victories dried with years, their ability to produce world-class talent didn’t. It was at this time that Brian Lara had arrived at the scene, taking the world by storm after recording the highest individual score in First-Class cricket - 501 not out for Warwickshire vs Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, which remains the only quintuple-hundred in a First-Class cricket match.

2️⃣6️⃣ years ago today, Brian Lara claimed the record for the highest individual first-class score.

But do you know who held the record before him?

Hint: pic.twitter.com/DzaVDjK6dT

�?ICC (@ICC) June 6, 2020

Later in 2004, Lara smashed an unbeaten 400 against England at Antigua to record the highest individual score in a Test innings.

#OnThisDay in 2004, Brian Lara slammed a record-beating 400* against England in St John's

It remains the highest-ever individual score in Tests.

An extraordinary knock by an extraordinary cricketer pic.twitter.com/eDSj9RzxFq

�?ICC (@ICC) April 12, 2020

Several bowling greats including Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne had hailed Lara as their toughest opponent among all batsmen in the world. Lara would accumulate more than 22,000 runs in international cricket and is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

One of the finest West Indies cricket players of the modern age, Brian Lara was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2012.

Chris Gayle: The man who helped West Indies dominate T20 format

With the advent of T20, the West Indies cricket began to evolve and realise their advantage of possessing and developing Richards-style batsmen who could destroy bowling attacks with brute-force. 

One such example is West Indies�?swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle, who had sent the world into a frenzy after smashing a century in a T20I and later became the first to hit two T20 tons as well. Gayle is considered to be the greatest batsman ever in the shortest format of the game.

Chris Gayle has accumulated well over 13,000 T20 runs in more than 400 matches at a strike rate of nearly 150. He has hit 22 tons and 85 half-centuries in the T20 format. Interestingly, the next best tons registered by an individual in the shortest format is just eight.

Yet another Milestone for the #UniverseBoss Chris Gayle 13000 runs in T20s!!! #JTvBT #CPL19 #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/S8MnqmP45h

�?CPL T20 (@CPL) September 15, 2019

Gayle has also helped West Indies claim their first World T20 title in 2012. He was also part of the Windies team that won their second ICC World T20 title in 2016.

#OnThisDay in 2012 West Indies won the T20 World Cup, beating Sri Lanka in the final

Where did you watch the final? pic.twitter.com/BlGVAsrkXm

�?ICC (@ICC) October 7, 2019

In international cricket, Gayle has scored nearly 20,000 runs in 462 matches with 42 hundreds and 104 fifties.

The Jamaican is the most capped player for the West Indies in international cricket and is the only player to score a triplet of centuries �?a triple hundred in Tests, double hundred in ODIs and a hundred in T20Is.

His achievements mean Gayle, who rang in the new age of West Indies cricket players, has been a marquee player for several T20 franchises across the world.

The quadrennial 50-over World Cup has given us some of the most memorable matches over years and none more so than the last final that took place in England a little over a year ago. Batsmen and bowlers alike raise their game and want to be at their best during the tournament with hopes of creating history for their country by winning the coveted World Cup. While not many get to realise that dream, they still etch their names into the World Cup history books courtesy of stellar performances that are always remembered. Here, we have a look at some of the highest-scoring individual knocks in World Cup history.

Martin Guptill

The highest-ever score by a batsman in World Cup history and Martin Guptill’s highest-scoring individual effort came against West Indies in the fourth quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup. The right-hander batted the entire 50 overs after opening the innings for the Kiwis and played a starring role with an unbeaten 163-ball 237 that featured 24 fours and 11 sixes. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 145.39 and helped New Zealand post 393 on the scoreboard. The Black Caps won the match after West Indies were bowled out for 250 during their reply but it was Guptill’s knock that truly set up the win and helped them qualify for the semi-final.

Chris Gayle

Before being hit to all corners of the park by Guptill in the quarter-final, West Indies inflicted a fair bit of damage with the bat themselves. Self-proclaimed Universe Boss Chris Gayle was the chief architect behind West Indies�?destruction of Zimbabwe’s bowlers in a Pool B match at the 2015 World Cup. The explosive left-hander was at his belligerent best against Zimbabwe, smashing 10 fours and 16 sixes en-route to a 147-ball 215. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 146.25 as the opposition struggled to deal with his onslaught prior to his dismissal with the last ball of West Indies�?innings. His knock helped the men from the Caribbean post 372 on the scoreboard and register a 73-run win by D/L method.

Gary Kirsten

A former South African opener and a World Cup-winning coach with India, Gary Kirsten held the distinction of being the highest-ever individual scorer for a team at a World Cup for almost 20 years. Opening the innings for the Proteas against United Arab Emirates in the second match of the 1996 World Cup, Kirsten played the full 50 overs and helped South Africa score 321. He remained unbeaten on 188 from 159 balls and scored at a strike rate of 118.23. The elegant left-hander smashed 13 fours and cleared the ropes on four occasions during his Player of the Match knock that set up a 169-run win for the Proteas.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly’s memorable 158-ball 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup was another controlled and graceful big knock by a left-hander. Ganguly was dismissed with the penultimate ball of the Indian innings but not before he had hit 17 fours and seven sixes. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 115.82 and along with Rahul Dravid, who scored 145 in the match, put on a partnership 318 together as India went on to score 373 at the end of their 50 overs. In response, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 216 as India recorded a big 157-run win against their Asian neighbours.

Sir Vivian Richards

A player who was ahead of his time, Sir Vivian Richards�?181 from 125 balls against Sri Lanka in the 1987 World Cup is still considered by many as one of the greatest ODI knocks of all time. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 144.80 long before having better than a run-a-ball strike became a common sight. The legendary West Indian hit 16 fours and seven sixes during the course of his 181 and helped the team post 360 after 50 overs. Richards was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Match as West Indies went on to win by 191 runs after Sri Lanka managed to score 169 in their innings �?12 runs short of the legendary right-hander's score in the match.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Saeed Khan

England and the West Indies will contest the new Richards-Botham Trophy when they next meet in a Test series, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced Thursday.

The trophy has been named in honour of West Indies batting great Vivian Richards and celebrated England all-rounder Ian Botham, who were teammates at English county Somerset before becoming opponents on the world stage.

It will be the Wisden Trophy that is up for grabs when the third and final Test of the current campaign gets underway at Old Trafford on Friday, with England and the West Indies locked at 1-1.

That was introduced in 1963 to mark the centenary of the Wisden Almanack 'cricket's bible', with Caribbean cricket great Learie Constantine a key mover behind its inception.

But former England captain Mike Atherton recently suggested the teams should compete for a prize named after outstanding cricketers as happens when Australia and India contest the (Allan) Border-(Sunil) Gavaskar Trophy.

"This is a huge honour for my good friend Ian and myself," said Richards, who scored more than 8,500 runs during a 121-Test career.

"I am delighted to know that the game that I have shown my love for since a little boy is naming such a prestigious award in my recognition of what I managed to achieve as a cricketer," added the 68-year-old Antiguan.

Richards reserved many of his best performances for England, including a majestic 291 at the Oval in 1976 and a blistering unbeaten century in West Indies' World Cup final win at Lord's three years later.

• Botham v Stokes - Who is the greatest England all-rounder?

"When I had the opportunity to go to England and represent Somerset, one of the first persons I met was Ian Botham, who would later become of one my best friends.

"We were competitors on the field, but we showed we were brothers off the field."

Botham, 64, who scored more than 5,000 runs and took 383 wickets in 102 Tests, said: "Viv was the finest batsman I ever played against.

"He's a great friend but we've always been competitive, not least when we were on the cricket field, and there was no one else's wicket I would treasure more.

"Playing the West Indies was always one of the toughest tests in cricket, and it's an honour for this trophy to bear our names."

The Wisden Trophy will be 'retired' and displayed in the MCC Museum at Lord's, where it has traditionally been kept.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Test cricket is synonymous with playing calm strokes instead of the blistering pace of the limited-over formats. While we have seen many an innings from the likes of VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Matthew Hayden, all of whom were known for their strong performances in Test cricket, there were some batsmen who took advantage of favourable pitch conditions or subpar bowling and managed to hit quickfire runs to help their team across the line.

On that note, we take a look at five players who have written their names in the annals of history books by quickfire centuries in Test cricket:

Jack Gregory vs South Africa �?67 balls (November 1921)

While touring South Africa in 1921, Jack Gregory had established himself as a legendary icon. In the first Test, he became one of two players to pick up a half-century, a five-wicket haul and five catches in a game. He backed that up with a century in the second Test, a record which took more than six decades to break, when Viv Richards did it in 1986, but more on that later below.

Gregory’s knock included 19 fours and two sixes, eventually losing his wicket for 119. Moreover, he achieved this feat in 70 minutes, a record which is yet to be broken in Test cricket. 

Adam Gilchrist vs England �?57 balls (December 2006)

The Aussies have a knack for etching their names in record books and Adam Gilchrist is no different. Former skipper and World Cup winner with the team from Down Under, Gilchrist has many an innings to boast his prowess, including the fourth fastest Test century against England at home.

Achieving the feat in 57 balls, Gilchrist went on to score an unbeaten 102 at a strike-rate of 172.88. Ironically, he lost his wicket for a duck in the first innings of the game.

Viv Richards vs England �?56 balls (April 1986)

When former West Indies stalwart Viv Richards hit a 56-ball century against England, he broke the aforementioned record of Jack Gregory that stood since 1921. Having already sealed the series with four wins, the Windies went full throttle against the English in the fifth Test as well.

Richards�?knock came in the second innings, with the Windies legend hitting 110 off 58 balls at a strike-rate of 189.65 before declaring the innings. At the peak of their abilities, West Indies went on to beat England by 240 runs and complete a 5-0 whitewash.

Misbah-ul-Haq vs Australia �?56 balls (October 2014)

The former Pakistan skipper is known for his slow innings and had a penchant for rescuing his side from imminent loss on many occasions. When Australia toured Pakistan in the latter’s adopted home in UAE, the Aussies were in for a surprise after losing the first Test. Misbah had hit a century in the first innings and backed up his performance with another century off 56 balls, which set up a massive total of 603 for Australia to chase down.

In response, the Aussies only managed 246 and lost the match by 356 runs.

Brendon McCullum vs Australia �?54 balls (February 2016)

Brendon McCullum is synonymous with powerful knocks all through his illustrious career, and his last-ever Test match was no different. McCullum helped his side from 32/2 to a staggering 370 courtesy of a blistering 145 runs off 79 balls at a strike-rate of 183.54, with his century coming in just 56 balls.

His century currently stands as the fastest ever in term of balls as well as the fifth-fastest in term of minutes (78 minutes). Although Australia managed to snatch the victory with a strong comeback, McCullum had already written his name in record books.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Greg Wood