The West Indies can take a lot of pride as a nation as far as World Cups are concerned. They are the only nation to win both ODI and T20 World Cup twice. In the 1970s and 1980s, the nation was a dominant force in the sport. Bowlers like Malcolm Marshall and batters like Vivian Richards paved their way to two consecutive World Cup victories in 1975 and 1979 under the leadership of the great Clive Llyod. The aura of the mighty West Indies was completely unmatched, and they were the most feared side for any team to play against. The nation has produced some great batters like Brian Lara and Chris Gayle. In this article, we will tell our readers about the top 10 run scorers for the nation in the ODI WCs.
1. Brian Lara
The most flamboyant left-handed batter to ever play for the nation, Brian Lara made batting look like a piece of cake. The southpaw was one of the best batters to play the sport. The former skipper for the nation in both formats made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1990. The top-order batter for the West Indies was a leader who led by example. He represented his nation for seventeen long years, from 1990 to 2007. He played five WC editions from 1992 to 2007 and scored 1225 runs in 33 innings. His heroics also included two centuries and seven half-centuries.
2. Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle is one of the most loved cricketers in the cricketing world. Across borders, the player has received a lot of love and support from his beloved fans. Such is the vibe created by an absolute superstar of the game, Christopher Henry Gayle. The left-handed opening batter has excelled the best in white-ball cricket, especially in the T20 format. The attacking southpaw made his ODI debut against India in 1999 and established himself as a fiery batter. He played five WCs from 2003 to 2019 and scored 1186 runs, including two centuries.
3. Vivian Richards
Vivian Richards was the best-ever batter to play for the West Indies. The stylish and striking batter was just too good for the bowlers of the opposition. His technical stroke-play with his ability to find gaps at regular intervals was a joy to watch. In the 1970s and 1980s, when the nation was the best in the sport, Richards was a crucial factor in the team. His presence on the field was enough for the nation to stay hopeful in crunch situations. In history, he went down as one of the most feared batters. He scored 1013 runs in World Cups, including three centuries.
4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
The unorthodox left-handed opening batter for the West Indies was a different entity when looked at in full flow. A strange style of stance, his immaculate time, and majestic stroke-play were something many idolized. Chanderpaul made his ODI debut against India in 1994 and established himself in the team. The southpaw was one of the best opening batters for the nation. He played his first WC match in 1996 and went on to play the WCs until 2011. The batter scored 970 runs in his ODI WC career.
5. Desmond Haynes
Desmond Haynes was a former right-handed opening batter for the West Indies. It is known that his favorite ground or venue was the Kensington Oval. Every time the batter would come out to bat, he would smash a ton more often than not. He was the first-ever batter to score most no. of ODI centuries (17) until the great Sachin Tendulkar surpassed him. A versatile batter who could adapt to any conditions and play easily according to the situation, Haynes made his ODI debut against Australia in 1978. He made 854 runs in the WCs.
6. Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ramnaresh Sarwan was a former wicket-keeper and a right-handed batter for the West Indies. He was a very adjustable batter and played at many positions. In the test format, he used to bat at no.7, while in the ODIs, his position was fixed in the top order. The former batter could build the innings at a brisk pace and put the bowlers under pressure. Sarwan was also a fine keeper and represented the nation in three WC editions from 2003 to 2007. He scored 739 runs in his ODI WC career.
7. Richard Richardson
Also known as ‘Sir Richie Richardson,’ the right-handed batter was an attacking player. He was one of the most talented and aggressive West Indian batters who could take on the opposition at will. Many compare him to the likes of Viv Richards and argue that the player was even more talented than him as well. He made his ODI debut against India in 1983 and continued playing until 1996. He played three WC editions from 1987-96 and scored 639 runs.
8. Gordon Greenidge
Gordon Greenidge his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1975. He was a part of the ever-dominating West Indies during the 1970s and even 1980s. The former right-handed opening batter meant business when he came out to bat. His destructive style of batting will be remembered by many. He represented the West Indies for 17 years and in three ODI WCs. In his 15 innings in the marquee tournament, the batter scored 591 runs.
9. Marlon Samuels
The man of the match in the final of the 2012 T20 WC against Sri Lanka, Samuels was one of the best middle-order batters for the nation. The right-handed batter and a handy off-spinner was a true asset to the team. He played 16 games from 2003 to 2015 in the ODI WCs and managed to score 460 runs.
10. Clive Llyod
Clive Lloyd was the former and the most successful skipper of the nation in the ODI format. He led the team in three ODI WCs from 1975 to 1979 and won two . Llyod was the first skipper to win two consecutive ODI WC titles in 1975 and 1979. The left-handed middle-order batter scored 393 runs in the ODI WCs. s
