Richie Richardson and 5 of Cricket's Most Flamboyant Batsmen

As the cricketing world says happy birthday to the flamboyant West Indian legend Richie Richardson on Monday, what better time to try and pick the five most flamboyant batsmen to have played the game?

With his floppy-brimmed maroon sun hat instead of a helmet, Richardson was instantly recognisable and played with a combination of power and style.

And it is these attributes which I was looking for in the following selections. With so many players to choose from, it was difficult to narrow them down, but I've tried to choose players who score their runs with a certain panache rather than just brute force.

Please note, the picks are based on performances in Test matches rather than limited-overs cricket and used pure batsmen rather than all-rounders.

Happy birthday, Richie!

5. David Gower

Associated Press

Tests: 117

Runs: 8,231

Average: 44.25

100s: 18

Silky smooth and stylish…and that’s just his hair! But seriously, in terms of batting style, David Gower was often an object of beauty in an otherwise industrial-looking England lineup.

With a square cut to die for and timing that, when he was on song, made batting look like shelling peas—as per this video—the 117 Test veteran defined elegance at the crease.

And it was this seemingly relaxed air which often got him out, incurring the wrath of team-mates and the hierarchy in the process as he attempted one graceful shot too many.

4. Adam Gilchrist

ROB GRIFFITH/Associated Press

Tests: 96

Runs: 5,570

Average: 47.60

100s: 17

Australia have possessed numerous flamboyant batsmen over the years with the likes of Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh, Michael Slater, Andrew Symonds, Dean Jones and current cross-format opener David Warner springing to mind.

But arguably, none of them nailed the intangible quality of flamboyance quite like Adam Gilchrist, who was a key part of the dominating Baggy Green team of the early 21st century.

Plying a simple strategy of see ball, hit ball, Gilchrist's swashbuckling blade ground many an opponent into the dirt, with his Test match runs often coming from the position of No. 7 in the order.

3. Kevin Pietersen

Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

Tests: 104

Runs: 8,181

Average: 47.28

100s: 23

Throughout his career, Kevin Pietersen has divided opinion. Is he the most talented English batsman of a generation? Or is his overall package detrimental to the team as a whole?

The England and Wales Cricket Board made their verdict known last year when they sacked the enigmatic star from the England team. But the South African-born run machine is clearly one of the few players who clears the bars when he comes out to bat.

Politics and opinion aside, with his unique array of shots in just a few hours at the crease, KP is capable of decimating opposition attacks and playing match-defining innings.

2. Brian Lara

Marty Melville/Getty Images

Tests: 131

Runs: 11,953

Average: 52.88

100s: 34

Brian Lara's incredible statistics speak volumes, but what sets him apart from perhaps his nearest contemporary, Sachin Tendulkar, was the way he scored his runs.

The iconic high backlift, the quick-moving feet and the impeccable timing would combine in the blink of an eye to send the ball, as per this compilation, racing towards the rope for yet another boundary.

In his prime, the Trinidadian was unplayable and broke the world record for the highest individual score twice—a record he still holds today for his 400 not out against England in 2004. 

1. Viv Richards

Warren Little/Getty Images

Tests: 121

Runs: 8,540

Average: 50.23

100s: 24

The iconography of Viv Richards is well known; the relaxed swagger to the wicket, the beard, the gum chewing, the aversion to wearing a helmet even in an era of ferocious pace bowlers.

And all of these confidence tricks certainly worked as few would argue against the Antiguan being the most flamboyant batsman of them all.

A Test average of over 50 tells part of the story, and the way he took opposition attacks apart, changing games in a few hours, earned him the nickname of "Master Blaster."

But the moniker does Richards something of an injustice; as well as possessing fearsome power, he also boasted a full array of shots and a style the made him one of, if not the greatest.

Stats via ESPNcricinfo.com unless otherwise noted.