"Great" sometimes is an over used word but these players had the ability/potential to join the ranks of "greats"....

Carl Llewellyn Hooper....omg was as talented a batsman as I've ever seen bar NONE an should have been Guyana's greatest ever but talent without application an work ethic was sadly missing hence a mid 30's ave in test an ODI's...he once said he had too many shots for the same delivery stuppps..

Lawrence George Rowe (aka yagga) what class what elegance an use to whistle when batting but sadly wasn't great away from home an was later afflicted by grass allergy an eye problems nevertheless still managed a 40+ ave mainly due to his home exploits.

Marlon Samuels....all the ability but fall short.. similar 30's ave in both tests an ODI's to Hoops.

an couple bowlers for good measure....Ian Bishop an Jerome Taylor .

No doubt there are others but the aforementioned came readily to mind.....any disputing those??

@CCW

that is why Brian Lara was the best player of his generation. It is very rare, especially in the neoliberal, extremely commercialized world that he grew up in, that the most talented players achieve even a fraction of their potential. the examples are endless: hooper, samuels, xavier marshall, vinod kambli, nante hayward etc and not only in cricket. David boon said this

There are very few absolutely naturally talented players who are successful at the highest level. Most of them have the element of talent, but it is how they play the game and their desire to be as best as they possibly can that makes cricketers successful. If I had to pick one that was the most naturally gifted, that will be Lara.