With over 8,500 runs in Test cricket, the West Indian is definitely among the best batters to ever play the longest format of the game
1. 291 vs England, London, 1976
Richards destroyed the English bowling attack with his amazing knock which included 38 boundaries. This innings helped West Indies post a total of 687/8 before declaring. Michael Holding’s magnificent 8-wicket haul helped the visitors in bowling out the hosts for 435 runs. The Windies would add another 182 runs to set up a target of 435 for England. Holding would go on to take 6 wickets more in the second innings as West Indies bowled out the hosts for 203 runs and won the match by 231 runs.
2. 232 vs England, Nottingham, 1976
Thanks to Richards’ fantastic double-ton, the Windies posted a total of 494 in the first innings. In reply, England managed to score 332 runs in their first innings before West Indies would add another 176 runs in their second innings to set up a target of 339 for the hosts. England would go on to score 156 runs in 78 overs and managed to draw the match.
3. 208 vs Australia, Melbourne, 1984
With the double-century, Richards became the first-ever West Indian to score a double-ton against Australia in Australia. This knock carried the Windies to a total of 479. Malcolm Marshall’s 5-wicket haul helped the visitors in bowling out the hosts for 296 runs before West Indies added another 186 runs in their second innings to set a target of 370 for Australia. The hosts managed to hold the West Indian bowling attack for 87 overs and drew the match with only 2 wickets left to spare.
4. 192* vs India, Delhi, 1974
The amazing West Indian bowling attack bowled out India for 220 runs in the first innings, before Richards’ incredible knock carried the visitors to 493 runs. In the second innings, the hosts would fall a little short as a 6-wicket haul by Lance Gibbs helped West Indies in bowling out India for a total of 256. The visitors went on to win the match by an innings and 17 runs.
5. 182* vs England, Barbados, 1981
West Indies posted a total of 265 in the first innings, before their lethal bowling attack proved to be too good for the English batters as they bowled them out for only 122 runs. During the hosts’ second innings, Richards took matters into his own hands and smashed the English bowlers around the park. Thanks to his fabulous knock, the hosts declared at 379/7 and set up a target of 523 for the visitors. The bowlers again did the job and bowled out England for 224 and West Indies won the match by 298 runs.
