The West Indies have always produced batting legends and have a long list of artists who have played ODI cricket with their skill, power, and winning centuries.
The West Indies have been home to such powerful hitters and even superstars like Brian Lara who were capable of overpowering the bowlers across the world.
The latest addition to the list is Shai Hope, who scored a phenomenal century (120 off 94 balls) against Pakistan in the 3rd ODI. And so, here is a list of the most prestigious players who held the record for the most ODI centuries for West Indies.
Most ODI Centuries for West Indies
5. Gordon Greenidge, Sir Vivian Richards, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 11 Hundreds
The fifth position in the list is shared by three players. During his career from 1975 to 1991, Gordon Greenidge smashed 11 ODI centuries, creating several legendary opening partnerships with Desmond Haynes. Sir Vivian Richards was the first ODI superstar, who by then was already dominating the bowlers and T20 cricket was not yet born.
Richards’ 11 ODI centuries came with an unbelievable strike rate of 90.20, which was a rarity in the late ’70s and ’80s. The patient, gritty, and unyielding Shivnarine Chanderpaul between 1994 and 2011 scored 11 hundreds in ODIs. With his unusual stance, he quietly accumulated 8,778 runs in the 50-over format.
4. Desmond Haynes – 17 Hundreds
Before Chris Gayle’s huge-hitting period, Desmond Haynes was the West Indies’ most dependable opener. In the years of 1978 to 1994, Haynes made 17 centuries in ODIs, and most of the innings were done in partnership with Gordon Greenidge, thus giving the team a steady start. In an era of powerful fast bowling and slower scoring, he averaged 41.37 with 8,648 runs to show his worth.
3. Shai Hope – 19 Hundreds
Among the current players, Shai Hope stands out due to his extraordinary ability to keep scoring runs regularly and thus continuing the tradition of great West Indian bats. His entry into international cricket was in the year 2016, and he has already scored 19 centuries in ODIs out of 147 matches played, at an average of 50.80, which is certainly dazzling.
His natural inclination to slow down the game and perform in pressure situations has made him the most dependable batsman of the current West Indies team. His highest ODI score of 170 speaks volumes about his talent and temperament.
2. Brian Lara – 19 Hundreds
It is impossible to compile a list of West Indies cricketers without mentioning the great Brian Lara, whose batting was simply a form of art. Famous for his high backlift and exquisite cover drives, Lara accumulated 19 hundred in ODIs during his career from 1990 to 2007.
Lara’s ODI record consists of 10,348 runs at an average of 40.90, with his best score being 169. His strike rate (79.62) was low by today’s standards, but his elegance and adaptability are still unmatched.
1. Chris Gayle – 25 Hundreds
No one in the West Indies has more hundreds in ODIs compared to Chris Gayle. The ‘Universe Boss’ hit 25 centuries in his ODI career from 1999 to 2019. With his massive sixes and fearless batting, Gayle became a nightmare for bowlers everywhere.
His top score of 215 was made in the 2015 World Cup against Zimbabwe, and it was a knock characterized by sheer power. In 298 games, Gayle amassed 10,425 runs at an average of 38.04 and a strike rate of 87.16, which included 330 sixes, the most by any West Indies player ever.
