Vivian Richards

Viv Richards is regarded as the most devastating batsman of his era, scoring 8,540 Test runs at an average of 50.23 for the West Indies from 1974 to 1991, with a strike rate faster than the average of his peers at 70. His refusal to wear a helmet against the fastest bowlers in history—Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Michael Holding—while averaging above 50 made him an icon of courage. Against Shane Warne #4, he famously counterattacked by stepping down the pitch to hit him for six, a style that epitomized Caribbean cultural pride. His 189* in 1984 against England at Old Trafford remains one of the greatest innings, showcasing raw power.