With Gordon Greenidge as his partner, Desmond Haynes did form one of the most formidable fortresses at the top of the order. The two added 6,483 runs at 47.32,with 16 were century stands.

They were as terrifying a sight for the opponents of the great West Indies side as Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall with the ball, or Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd in the middle order.

But Haynes did more than just partner the harder-hitting and more flamboyant Greenidge. He carried the bat three times in Tests (a feat equalled by Dean Elgar). And at Dunedin in 1978-79 he opened the batting and was last out in both the innings, a feat that has not been equalled.

He also ended his career as the highest run-getter in the world in ODIs, as well as the man with the highest number of centuries in that format.

Furthermore, he was a canny captain whenever Viv Richards was not around.

Spending most of the heady 1980s in the short leg, he was a fantastic fielder in that specialist position.

And later, he became a senator in the Barbados parliament.

Desmond Haynes was born on February 15, 1956.

Text: Arunabha Sengupta

Illustration: Maha