Former West Indies cricketers having a hearty laugh. Front row from left are Sir Garry Sobers, Gordon Greenidge and Sir Viv Richards. Behind them from left are Richie Richardson, Ian Bishop and Desmond Haynes. In the back row are Courtney Walsh (left) and Curtly Ambrose

Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge formed what was the most successful opening pair the West Indies have had and dominated the game for over 13 years.

Many believe they were the best Test openers in history Desmond made his Test debut on March 3, 1978, against Australia at Port-of-Spain. He worked alongside some of the most famous cricketers of the century names like Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran and Gordon Greenidge.

	Desmond Haynes, a keen golfer is seen here playing at the first 'Caribbean Promise' charity golf tournament held at the Royal Westmorelands Golf Course in October 2003.
Haynes has a broad smile and a sharp sence of humour, and this often deceived first-time opponents into believing that having him at the striker's end was the lesser evil. Desmond, there is no doubt, loved and enjoyed his cricket and was a professional to the core.

Ben Johnson approaching the eighth hole with Desmond Haynes watching.

Haynes on new sports board

Date June 08, 2005

DESMOND HAYNES has been appointed to the newly-established Commonwealth Advisory Board on Sports (CABOS).

The chairman of the National Sports Council and sport consultant to the Ministry of Sport, is one of two people from the region on the 12-member advisory panel. The other is Jamaica's Michael Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Haynes, who played 116 Test matches for the West Indies cricket team, and scored 7 487 runs at an average of 42.29, said his name was submitted by the Ministry of Sport, and he was accepted.

The decision to establish CABOS was taken by Commonwealth leaders at their meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, in December 2003. It will look at ways to build on the virtues of sport to nurture talent, sharpen skills and attain goals.

CABOS will put forward recommendations to Commonwealth Sports Ministers on policies and programmes to encourage a healthy lifestyle and help young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop their skills and work prospects.

Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon who will open the meeting says: "Sport empowers young people by teaching them about team spirit, discipline and endurance. It promotes a level playing field and offers positive role models to emulate.

"Bringing together some of the best sport experts in the Commonwealth, CABOS will be able to tap into the huge potential sport represents to create new opportunities," he added.

Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport in the United Kingdom, the current chair of the

Commonwealth Sports Ministers, welcomed the new body: "Having chaired the Ministerial meetings, I know how much the Commonwealth has to offer to sport.

"There is a wealth of experience and knowledge throughout the Commonwealth, and CABOS will help member countries make the most of sport's capacity to change lives. Be it improving people's health, raising children's educational standards, youth leadership or bringing communities together - sport can do it all."

Caribbean Cricket

Sporting islands

Former West Indies opening batsman, Desmond Haynes accepting his travel documents from Arawak's Wilma Gibson as Trevor Ifill, Arawak's acting general manager looks on.

001 Vivian Richards	002 Vivian Richards	003 Vivian Richards	005 Andy Roberts
006 Desmond Haynes	007 Joel Garner	008 Gordon Greenidge	012 Curtly Ambrose
013 Sir Garfield Sobers	014 Michael Holding	016 Clive Lloyd