Tino Best
A fiery, fast-bowling Barbadian whose explosive pace and record-breaking tail-end batting made him a cult hero in West Indies cricket.
Born 1981 (age 45)·West Indian cricketer·Birthday: August 26·Millennials
Biography
Tino Best played cricket with the uncontainable energy of a summer storm. Hailing from Barbados, he burst onto the international scene as a genuine fast bowler, capable of delivering searing spells that recalled the glory days of West Indies pace. His career was a rollercoaster of injuries, comebacks, and unforgettable moments. While his bowling was his primary weapon, he secured his place in cricket lore with the bat. In a 2012 Test match against England, playing as a number 11, he smashed a breathtaking 95 runs—the highest score ever by a player in that position—a innings of pure, joyous aggression that perfectly captured his fearless approach to the game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tino was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tino Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Tino's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
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
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 95 runs as a number 11 batsman against England in 2012, the highest Test score by a player in that position.
- Took 5 wickets for 24 runs in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2012, his best bowling figures.
- Played 25 Test matches for the West Indies, taking over 50 wickets with his aggressive pace bowling.
- Had a long domestic career for Barbados, spanning over 15 years in first-class cricket.
Did You Know?
His full name is Tino la Bertram Best.
He famously engaged in a heated on-field verbal exchange with England's Andrew Flintoff during a Test match, which spurred him on to bowl one of his quickest spells.
He played for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club in England for the 2010 season.
He briefly played in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008.
“I bowled fast because that's what a West Indian does.”
