Test cricket is considered the purest format of the game. Despite being the oldest format of cricket, it is still popular among audiences. We have seen many test greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, and many more who have some spectacular records in the format. As the giants of international cricket, West Indies ruled the charts in the 1970s and carried their form into the 1980s. We will look at the top 10 cricketers from the Caribbean nation who scored the most runs in test matches.
1. Brian Lara
Brian Lara scored the most runs for West Indies in the test format. He made his test debut in 1990 and went on to play for 16 more years before retiring in 2006. The prince appeared in 130 test matches and scored 11,912 runs with the help of 48 fifties and 34 centuries. He also holds the record of the highest individual score in tests- an unbeaten 400.
2. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is among the top two in the highest run-scorers list in the test format for the Caribbean side. He represented his country in 164 test matches. No other cricketer has represented the West Indies test side more than he has. Chanderpaul scored 11,867 runs in this format, including 66 half-centuries and 30 centuries.
3. Viv Richards
Sir Vivian Richards is the third-highest run-getter in the test match history for the West Indies. He was one of the great batters in the 1980s. Viv started his test journey in 1974 and went on to play until 1991. He was a part of 121 test matches in which he scored 8540 runs, including 45 fifties and 24 tons. His highest score was 291.
4. Gary Sobers
Sir Gary Sobers represented the Caribbean nation in 93 test matches. The southpaw scored 8032 runs in a career that spanned nearly two decades. He debuted in 1954 and ended his career in 1974. He scored 30 half-centuries and 26 centuries, with his career batting average in tests touching nearly 60. His highest score in test format is an unbeaten 365.
5. Gordon Greenidge
Gordon Greenridge’s name also comes under the top five highest run-getters of the Windies test side. His test career was launched in 1974 and spanned for more than 17 years. He was involved in 108 test matches, scoring 7558 runs at an average of 45. He has 34 fifties and 19 centuries to his name.
6. Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd is the former skipper of the West Indies Test side. His test career started in 1966, and he played for nearly 20 years. In this period, he scored 7515 runs in 110 test matches with the help of 39 fifties and 19 centuries. The southpaw’s highest score in the test format was an unbeaten 242.
7. Desmond Haynes
Desmond Haynes was the right-handed batter representing the West Indies side in the 1980s. He began his test match career in 1978 and went on to play till 1994. Haynes was a part of 116 test matches, scoring 7487 runs at an average of more than 40. He hit 39 half-centuries and 19 centuries in his Test career.
8. Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle’s batting prowess was not limited to the limited-over format only. He has made his name in the test format too. He made his test debut in 2000. The Universe Boss has been a part of 103 test matches in which he scored 7214 runs. These runs included 37 half-centuries and 15 centuries, with the highest score of 333. Gayle played his last test match in 2014.
9. Rohan Kanhai
Rohan Kanhai is a former West Indies legend who was a part of the Windies side in the 1960s. He made his test debut in 1957, scoring 6227 runs at an average of nearly 47. He was a part of 79 test matches in which he scored 28 fifties and 15 tons. He called the time on his test career in 1974.
10. Richie Richardson
Sir Richie Richardson is the former skipper of the Windies side. He represented his team in 86 test matches, in which he scored 5949 runs. He made these runs at an average of 44, including 27 half-centuries and 16 centuries. Richie played his final test match in 1995 before hanging his boots. He later became a match referee.