A part of a great opening partnership that tormented bowlers all over the world. Dessie as he was known was the perfect partner to the destructive Gordon Greenidge. The two formed a formidable pair in the middle and can be considered as the greatest openers cricket has ever seen.

A stroke-maker who was particularly strong on the pace bowlers, like any West Indian, Haynes and Greenidge added 6482 runs as a pair. This was the highest in terms of partnerships until recently and still remains the best amongst the openers.

A consistent performer right through his career, Haynes maintained a fine average against all the major Test teams of his period. He was a dominant performer at home averaging a terrific 56.05 in 49 Test matches. Haynes struggled initially against spin, but developed his game against the slow stuff later on in his career as exemplified by his stupendous knocks of 75 and 143 on a Sydney dust-bowl in 1989.

Haynes was also known for his ruthless approach towards captaincy, once famously using delaying tactics to prevent an England victory at Trinidad in 1989-90. Haynes was a part of the World Cup winning 1979 squad and also played in the 1983, 87 and 91-92 WCs.

Since his retirement in 1994, Haynes has served as the chairman of the selection panel of Barbados and is currently the batting coach of the West Indies team.

By Pradeep Krishnamurthy