Vivian Richards

Widely regarded as the most devastating batsman in cricket history in his era, Viv Richards of Antigua scored 8,540 Test runs at an average of 50.23 for the West Indies from 1974 to 1991, but his impact on the game extended beyond statistics -- his refusal to wear a helmet against the fastest bowlers in history (Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Michael Holding) while averaging above 50 made him an icon of personal courage and cultural pride across the Caribbean.