According to the late, great, Barbadian cricket commentator and historian, Tony Cozier, Brian Lara’s 213 against Australia at Sabina Park in March 1999 is the greatest Test innings ever played by a West Indian. Considering the context, Cozier’s assertion was understandable. Lara was on probation following the disastrous South African expedition that preceded the Australian visit. Additionally, the West Indies were steamrolled in the first Test in Trinidad and Tobago, dismissed for 51 in the second innings.

Arguments could be made for other performances, of course: there was Lara’s 153 later in that same series in Barbados; there was Garfield Sobers’ 365 not out at that same Sabina Park in 1958, or his famed 132 in Brisbane during the famous first tied Test; there was Viv Richards’ majestic 291 at the Oval against England, or his favourite, his 63 at Sabina Park in 1983 against India which wrought a miraculous last-over victory. But the innings I’d like to make a case for is the 169 scored by the late Roy Fredericks in Perth in December 1975.

As ever, the context is important. The West Indies had lost the first Test in Brisbane badly, by eight wickets. And though Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee had merely hinted at the bludgeoning they were about to deliver on the visiting batters that series, the Perth wicket was lightning fast and offered steep bounce, so much so that Andy Roberts smashed the hosts for 7/54 in the second innings.

https://garfieldrobinson1.substack.com/p/the-greatest-innings-nobody-talks