Desmond Haynes
With an unflappable calm at the crease, he formed half of cricket's most formidable and enduring opening partnership with Gordon Greenidge.
Born 1956 (age 70)·Barbadian former cricketer·Birthday: February 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Desmond Haynes approached the wicket with the serene confidence of a man who knew he owned it. The Barbadian batsman, born in 1956, partnered with the more explosive Gordon Greenidge to create an opening duo for the West Indies that was both elegant and ruthless. From the late 1970s through the early '90s, their synergy at the top of the order provided the foundation for one of the most dominant teams in cricket history. Haynes's technique was textbook-perfect, a masterclass in accumulation and concentration that wore bowlers down. He was a cornerstone of the 1979 World Cup-winning team and a steadying force in an era of fearsome fast bowling, both from his own side and the opposition. After retiring, he brought his thoughtful approach to coaching, shaping future generations of Caribbean cricketers with an emphasis on the mental fortitude he exemplified.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Desmond was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Desmond Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Desmond's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Formed a legendary opening partnership with Gordon Greenidge, amassing over 6,000 runs together in Test cricket.
- Was a key member of the West Indies team that won the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
- Scored over 7,000 runs in Test cricket at an average above 42, including 18 centuries.
- Served as a cricket coach for the West Indies and Barbados after his playing career ended.
Did You Know?
He made his Test debut for the West Indies against Australia in 1978, scoring a century in his second match.
Haynes was known for his distinctive, upright batting stance and his preference for wearing a sunhat rather than a helmet.
He once held the record for the highest individual score in the Benson & Hedges Cup, a now-defunct English limited-overs competition.
“You have to play the ball, not the bowler's reputation.”
