best west indian player ever

[Jebjab]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

The best overall West Indian player has to be Gary Sobers for his all-round abilities.

The best West Indian specialist batsman was unquestionably George Headley. He played at a time when the WI were a very weak team and faced some of the strongest opposition around the world and virtually supported the entire team.

The best WI bowler is harder to choose, but Lance Gibbs should be in with a shout, probably just ahead of Courtnay Walsh.

Agree with all of these.....Gibbs held the world record for most number of test dissmissals[Benaud broke it] Sobers the greatest all rounder of modern era and Headley was often referred to as "The Black Bradman"

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by JEBJAB

Gibbs held the world record for most number of test dissmissals[Benaud broke it]

Sorry, but that's not quite correct. Benaud took 248 test wickets and retired in 1963, when Gibbs was early in his career. It was Dennis Lillee who broke Gibbs' record - I think in the 1982-3 Ashes series - and several others have gone past since.

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

Sorry, but that's not quite correct. Benaud took 248 test wickets and retired in 1963, when Gibbs was early in his career. It was Dennis Lillee who broke Gibbs' record - I think in the 1982-3 Ashes series - and several others have gone past since.

Just for correctness - you are correct that Dennis Lillee broke Gibbs record - but it was in the boxing day Melbourne test in 1981 against the West Indies. Greg Chappell taking the wicket in the slips from Gomes. Dennis Lillee took his best ever innings bowling in that same innings 7 for 83.

This is one of my favourite matchs - watching Lillee and Holding dominate the batsman was superb. A close hard fought test.

But watching Lillee after taking Gomes wicket, he walked down to deep third man to field - only to find out he was supposed to be fielding at deep long on. The Melbourne crowd stood and applauded him from one end of the field to the other.

Just to show what type of match this was here are the other records that occurred in this match;

1. Lillee equaled the record for 10 wickets in match 7 times
2. Lille broke the record of Kapil Dev's 74 with 85 wickets in 1981
3. Holdings match result of 11/107 is a record for West Indies v Australia
4. Murray's 9 catch's is a West Indian record.

[ll0OoO0ll]

For me it has to be Richards for his confidence and aggressiveness, but when it comes to stylish batsman then I think there is no better in the world than Carl Hooper.

[Jebjab]

Originally Posted by Colourful Chaddi

Good thread brain_lara !!

I am going to agree with Nijaman with this, Garry Sobers is definitely the best PLAYER West Indies have produced, he is arguably the greatest cricketer after Donald Bradman. His batting would get him into anybody’s all-time world XI side and his bowling was very good also, he was able to bowl both finger/wrist spin and swing bowling as good as anybody in his team.

Viv Richards is the best BATSMAN West Indies have produced there is no doubt about that, he is for sure the best batsman of the post-war era. He had a brilliant eye and he was the most attacking batsman of his time, a time when bowling attacks included the likes of Marshall, Holding, Garner, Lilliee, Thompson, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Hadlee, and many more that bowled on more bowler-friendly wickets than today. One can only imagine how he would bat in this era of flat pitches and weaker bowling attacks.

As for West Indies best bowler of all time is much harder task when you have to pick one player out greats such as Wes Hall, Roberts, Croft, Lance Gibbs, Holding, Garner, Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh and Ian Bishop. But I am going to pick Curtley Ambrose simiply because he was one of my favourite bowlers and that he was a very tall fast bowler. I am sure most batsmen will struggles to play deliverys which are bowled by an 6ft 8" man.

What about "The Black Bradman"...George Headley???????????

[Quagmire]

The greatest ever West Indian batsman is Headley, Greatest ever West Indian bowler Marshall and the greatest ever cricketer (not just the west indies) is Sobers

[Warne]

It has to be Sir Garry.