How Garry Sobers and Other Barbados Greats Might Have Fared in T20 Cricket

Desmond Haynes Reflects on Barbados Cricket Legends in the T20 Format

Garry Sobers (93 Tests, 1 ODI)
– Recognized as the greatest all-round cricketer, Sobers would have excelled in T20 with his versatile skills. Known for hitting six sixes in an over, he could bowl rapid left-arm swing or spin and was a brilliant fielder.

Franklyn Stephenson (0 Tests, 0 ODIs)

– An exceptional fast bowler with a unique slower ball, Stephenson was an outstanding all-rounder. Despite never playing for West Indies, his skills would have been ideal for T20.

Desmond Haynes (116 Tests, 238 ODIs)
– Haynes, who enjoyed aggressive batting in one-day games, believes he would have thrived in T20. Known for his powerful hitting, he would have relished the shorter format.

Collis King (9 Tests, 18 ODIs)
– An aggressive batsman with a solid technique, King loved hitting over the top. His performance in the 1979 World Cup final showcased his T20 potential.

Cammie Smith (5 Tests, 0 ODIs)
– Smith was an aggressive opener who loved scoring quickly. His approach in the 1960s was ahead of its time, making him a natural fit for T20.

Philo Wallace (7 Tests, 33 ODIs)
– A big hitter from St James, Wallace would have been a formidable T20 player. His powerful hitting style was evident in his Test performance against England in 1998.

David Holford (24 Tests, 0 ODIs)
– Holford, a legbreak and googly bowler and a capable batsman, was a knowledgeable leader. His all-round skills and game-reading ability would have suited T20 cricket.

Desmond Haynes reflects that many of his contemporaries and predecessors would have embraced T20 cricket. Players like Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, and Joel Garner would have thrived in the format.

He reminisces about the thrilling 2016 World T20 final when Carlos Brathwaite, another Barbadian, hit four sixes in the final over to secure victory for the West Indies.

This reflection highlights the adaptability and potential of Barbados cricket legends in the modern T20 format, celebrating their aggressive playing styles and versatile skills that would have made them standouts in the shortest form of the game.

Credit: espncricinfo