5 West Indies batters with most runs in international cricket ft. Chris Gayle
The West Indies cricket team is not among the strongest sides in world cricket. However, there was a time when they dominated the game. It is thus a pity to see the state of Caribbean cricket today. Several fans and experts have often stated that the game of cricket needs a strong West Indies team.
The Windies won the inaugural two ODI World Cups in 1975 and 1979. They reached the finals for the third time in a row in 1983 but went down to India in a low-scoring final as their batting crumbled. West Indies have never been the same side since then.
Although the fortunes of the side have shown a steady decline over the last few decades, they have displayed glimpses of brilliance in between. West Indies won the Champions Trophy in 2004. They have also lifted the T20 World Cup twice - in 2012 and in 2016.
The Caribbean side has produced many legendary batters over the years. In this feature, we look at five West Indies players who have scored the most number of runs in international cricket.
#5 Sir Viv Richards
Sir Vivian Richards is at number five on the list of West Indies batters with the most runs in international cricket. The legendary cricketer featured in 308 matches (349 innings) and notched up 15261 runs at an average of 48.75, with 35 hundreds and 90 half-centuries.
The former Windies captain played 121 Test matches and scored 8540 runs at an average of 50.23, with 24 centuries and 45 half-centuries. The 72-year-old's highest Test score of 291 was registered against England at The Oval in 1976. He also hammered 232 against the same opponent in Nottingham in the same year.
Looking at his ODI numbers, Richards featured in 187 games and scored 6721 runs, averaging 47, with 11 hundreds and 45 half-centuries. His best of 189* came against England in Manchester in 1984. Richards also scored 181 off 125 against Sri Lanka in Karachi in the 1987 World Cup.
#4 Desmond Haynes
Former opener Desmond Haynes is fourth on the list of West Indies batters with the most runs in international cricket. He played 354 matches (439 innings) and amassed 16135 runs at an average of 41.80, with 35 tons and 96 fifties.
Haynes, who formed a memorable opening partnership with Gordon Greenidge, featured in 116 Tests and scored 7487 runs at an average of 42.29, with 18 hundreds and 39 half-centuries. His best of 184 was registered against England at Lord's in 1980. He also scored 167 against England in St John's in 1990.
The 68-year-old played 238 ODI matches and notched up 8648 runs at an average of 41.37, with 17 hundreds and 57 half-centuries. The West Indies batting legend's best ODI score of 152* was registered against India in Georgetown in 1989.
#3 Chris Gayle
Swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle is third on the list of West Indies batters with the most runs in international cricket. He has featured in 483 matches (551 innings) and has totaled 19593 runs at an average of 37.97, with 42 hundreds and 105 half-centuries to his credit.
Gayle represented West Indies in 103 Tests and scored 7214 runs at an average of 42.18, with 15 hundreds and 37 half-centuries. His best of 333 came against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2010. The left-hander also slammed 317 against South Africa in St John's in 2005.
Shifting focus to his ODI numbers, the West Indies batter smacked 10480 runs in 301 matches at an average of 37.83, with 25 tons and 54 fifties. Gayle's ODI best of 215 came against Zimbabwe in Canberra during the 2015 World Cup. The 44-year-old has also featured in 79 T20Is in which he has scored 1899 runs at a strike rate of 137.50, with two centuries and 14 half-centuries.
#2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul
The highly underrated Shivnarine Chanderpaul is second on the list of West Indies batters with the most runs in international cricket. The left-hander represented the Windies in 454 matches (553 innings) and amassed 20988 runs at an average of 45.72, with 41 hundreds and 125 half-centuries.
Chanderpaul played 164 Test matches and scored 11867 runs at an average of 51.37, with 30 hundreds and 66 half-centuries. His best of 203* came against South Africa in Georgetown in 2005. The southpaw also scored 203* against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2012.
The 50-year-old represented West Indies in 268 ODIs, scoring 8778 runs at an average of 41.60, with 11 tons and 59 fifties. His best of 150 came against the Proteas in East London in 1999. Chanderpaul also featured in 22 T20Is, scoring 343 runs, with a best of 41.
#1 Brian Lara
One of the greatest players in the history of the game, Brian Lara tops the list of West Indies batters with the most runs in international cricket. He featured in 430 matches (521 innings) and amassed 22358 runs at an average of 46.28, with 53 hundreds and 111 half-centuries.
Lara played 131 Tests and notched up 11953 runs at an average of 52.88, with 34 tons and 48 fifties. His best of 400* came against England in St John's in 2004. This is still a record for the highest Test score. Lara also hit 375 against England at the same venue in 1994. This also stood as a record for the highest Test score for several years.
In ODIs, Lara featured in 299 games and scored 10405 runs at an average of 40.48, with 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries. The southpaw's best of 169 came against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 1995, a knock that featured 15 fours and four sixes. Lara did not play any T20I match for the Windies.