Dale Richards only broke into the Barbados side in his late 20s but he quickly established himself as one of the most dependable opening batsmen in the West Indies, albeit one with a reputation for failing to convert fifties into hundreds.

He started the 2008-09 season with 65 and 113 in the first game and was rewarded by being called up for the first Test against England.

He had to wait just a few months for his debut after the senior team boycotted the St Vincent Test against Bangladesh over a contract dispute. His main contribution was an aggressive fifty in the second Test in Grenada.