We have our own flags, our own currencies. People tend to lump us all together as the West Indies, but culturally there are huge differences between the islands -Former West Indies captain, Jimmy Adams

The term West Indies is almost exclusive to cricket as everywhere else the region is known as Caribbean. In this region cricket is now enjoyed by a cross section of the population regardless of their social and cultural differences.

In the beginning cricket was played by wealthy British plantation workers’ sons. Their schools organised the tournaments. By the early twentieth century, an inter-colonial tournament was organised.

With the emergence of great George Headley, regarded as the greatest ever number six batsman, cricket was no longer seen as a game reserved for the white elite.

The journey so far • Six sixes in one over-Gary Sobers • Only captain twice to win a WC- Clive Lloyd

Former fast bowler Wes Hall and the ex-Jamaican prime minister Michael Manley talk openly about the importance of the side's success under Frank Worrell- the first appointed black captain of the West Indies.

The side which contained Michael Holding, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Courtney Walsh is widely regarded as the greatest ever to have played the game. This side went 15 years without loosing a test series.

As Caribbean countries edged towards independence, cricket admirers saw the emergence of another cricketing genius- Gary or Garfield Sobers.

Sobers, regarded as the finest all-rounder of the modern times, still holds the unbeatable record of six sixes in an ove. His test record of 365 was only beaten decades later by another great from the Caribbean- Brian Lara.

Cricket is the glue which keeps us together. For over 75 years, we've done extremely well for just five million people Clive Lloyd

This programme also charts the careers of some of the greatest names the sport has ever seen from George Headley and Gary Sobers through to the present captain Brian Lara.

With exclusive interviews, and material from the BBC archives, Michael Holding presents Story of West Indies’ Cricket.

Story of cricket- West Indies
	click here to listen