I know I’ll have to explain a few of these selections. The ones likely to raise the most questions, I believe, are the choice of openers. Most West Indian fans would expect that it would be Greenidge and Haynes walking out to face the new ball; others would plump for a spot for Conrad Hunte, or Chris Gayle.

The main issue I foresee with those chosen is that they weren’t normally used as openers during their careers. But both batted mainly at three. This means they’d have to face the brand-new ball whenever a wicket fell very early. Richards opened in the last two Tests of the West Indies’ unfortunate 1975-76 tour of Australia when they were battered by the high pace and hostility of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee. His scores were 30, 101, 50, and 98. He was a renowned player of fast bowling, and all of the quickies of his day, at some time or other, felt the force of his majestic blade.

The fragility of the West Indies’ batting during his time, meant Headley not only carried the batting on his slender shoulders, but he was basically forced to open the innings as well. “I would be putting on my pads,” he complained, “and sometimes before I was finished I would hear that the first wicket had gone.” Headley was second only to the incomparable Bradman in his day, and scored runs against the best the world had to offer.

https://garfieldrobinson1.substack.com/p/this-west-indies-xi-could-beat-the