West Indies is known for producing excellent fast bowlers and hard-hitting batters. Each batter has the potential to hit sixes out of the ground. Their opening batsmen give an excellent start to the innings. Hence, the finishers play without any pressure. There have been many excellent opening pairs of West Indies in all three formats. Here is a list of the top 10 opening pairs of West Indies cricket.
10. Andre Fletcher And Evin Lewis
Andre Fletcher is a right-handed opening batsman. He often plays a role as a wicket-keeper for his team. Evin Lewis is a left-handed opening batsman. He is the third batter to score two T20 International centuries. Recently, Lewis formed a pair with Fletcher against Australia. They opened together in the T20s. They are in the tenth position on the list.
9. Andre Fletcher And Chris Gayle
Andre Fletcher is a right-handed opening batsman. He often becomes a wicket-keeper for his team. Chris Gayle is a left-handed opening batsman. He has set a lot of records in all three formats of the game. Recently, Gayle formed a pair with Fletcher against Pakistan. They scored more than 200 runs together. They are in the ninth position on the list.
8. Kraigg Brathwaite And Kieran Powell
Kraigg Brathwaite is a right-handed batsman. He is the current skipper of West Indies cricket in tests format. Recently, Brathwaite became the second West Indian to score two fifties in tests before his 19th birthday. Kieran Powell is the other left-handed opening batsman. He formed a pair with Brathwaite in tests against Pakistan in 2021.
7. Daren Ganga And Chris Gayle
Daren Ganga was an excellent right-handed opening batsman. He played for West Indies from 1998 to 2008. Chris Gayle is a left-handed opening batter. He is the first-ever batsman to hit 1000 sixes in T20 cricket. Gayle formed a pair with Ganga in tests. They scored more than 800 runs together. Due to their performance, they are in the seventh position.
6. Desmond Haynes And Richie Richardson
Desmond Haynes was a right-handed opening batsman. He played for West Indies from 1978 to 1994. Haynes has scored 35 international centuries, which makes him an excellent batter. Richie Richardson is a former right-handed opening batter and captain of the West Indies. He formed a pair with Desmond in tests. They scored more than 900 runs together. They are in the sixth position on the list.
5. Desmond Haynes And Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes was a right-handed opening batter. Phil Simmons was also a right-handed opening batsman. He played for West Indies from 1987 to 1999 that is, for 13 years. Phil is the current coach of the West Indies team. Simmons scored six international centuries. He formed a pair with Desmond in tests. They scored almost 1000 runs together. They are in the fifth position on the list.
4. Desmond Haynes And Brian Lara
Brian Lara is a former left-handed top-order batsman of the West Indies. Lara is one of the greatest batsmen of all time because he holds the world record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket. Desmond Haynes was a right-handed opening batsman. He formed a pair with Lara in tests. They scored a total of 1495 runs together. They are in the fourth position on the list.
3. Chris Gayle And Wavell Hinds
Wavell Hinds is a former West Indies top-order batsman. He was a left-handed batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. Hinds played exceptionally well in all formats of the game from 1999 to 2010. Chris Gayle is a left-handed opening batsman. He formed an excellent pair with Wavell in several games. They scored more than 1600 runs together. They are in the third position on the list.
2. Shivnarine Chanderpaul And Chris Gayle
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was a left-handed top-order batsman. He played for West Indies from 1994 to 2015 that is, for 21 years. Chris Gayle is also a left-handed opening batsman. He formed a pair with Chanderpaul and scored crucial runs for his team. They were one of the effective opening pairs of West Indies. They scored more than 1900 runs together. They are in the second position on the list.
1. Gordon Greenidge And Desmond Haynes
Gordon Greenidge is a former right-handed opening batsman of the West Indies. Gordon is one of the destructive opening batsmen of all time. Desmond Haynes was also a right-handed opening batsman. He formed an excellent pair with Gordon in tests and ODIs. They are the most successful opening pair of West Indies cricket. They scored more than 5000 runs together. They are in the top position on the list.
