Clive Lloyd

Clive Lloyd played in 110 Test matches for West Indies, and captained them in 74 of them, an achievement worth emulating. His elevation at the top also coincided with the era in which the West Indian team was the best and the most feared one by opponents. And the credit for that could easily be given to their captain, Lloyd, who united the players from various islands, like no-one else. Just like the current Aussie team has changed the rate at which the runs are scored in Tests, Lloyd had changed the course of Test cricket with his stacking up of fast bowlers and instilling the discipline and self control that was required to succeed at the highest level.

Which is not to say that his batting record was not upto the mark. He scored more 7500 runs at a very good average of 47, and as a captain this went up to almost 52. In ODIs, he scored his runs at almost 40 every match, his most famous inning being the one he played in the finals of the 1975 World Cup, when he snuffed out any hopes that the Aussies entertained, by scoring a quicker than run a ball century.

Post retirement, Lloyd continued with his involvement in cricket, as a manager, coach, commentator and a match referee. He has refereed in more than 50 Tests and 100 ODIs, commanding a lot of respect from players world over.