Sir Clive Hubert Lloyd (born 31 August 1944) is a Guyanese-British former cricketer who captained the West Indies cricket team from 1974 to 1985. Widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in the history of the game, Lloyd presided over the rise of the West Indies into one of the most dominant Test and One Day International sides of the 20th century. Under his leadership, the West Indies won the 1975 Cricket World Cup and the 1979 Cricket World Cup, and were runners-up at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
| Full name | Clive Hubert Lloyd |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 August 1944 |
| Nationality | Guyanese-British |
| Batting | Middle-order batsman |
| Bowling | Occasional medium-pace |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in |
| Test debut | 1966 |
| Test runs | 7,515 (average 46.67) |
| Test sixes | 70 |
| West Indies captain | 1974–1985 |
| Domestic teams | Guyana, Lancashire |
| Honours | Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1971); ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2009); Knight Bachelor (2020) |
Born in Guyana, Lloyd grew up to become a tall, powerfully built batsman known for his stooping shoulders at the crease. He wore glasses throughout his career, the result of an eye injury sustained in childhood when he was poked in the eye with a ruler. In his early years he was also a strong fielder at cover point.
Lloyd made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1966. In 1971, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He was the first West Indian player to take a wicket with his first ball on ODI debut, and later became the first West Indian to earn 100 international caps.
Lloyd took over as captain of the West Indies in 1974. Under his leadership, the team won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975, with Lloyd himself scoring a century in the final. The West Indies retained the title at the 1979 World Cup, before losing the 1983 World Cup final to India.
In Test cricket, Lloyd's side put together a run of 27 matches without defeat, which included 11 successive victories. Viv Richards acted as captain for one of those 27 matches, against Australia at Port of Spain in 1983–84.
Lloyd represented his home nation of Guyana in West Indies domestic cricket. In England, he played for Lancashire, and was appointed captain of the county in 1981.
Lloyd scored 7,515 runs in Test cricket at an average of 46.67. He struck 70 sixes in Tests, the 20th-highest tally by any player.
Following his retirement as a player, Lloyd remained closely involved with the game. He managed the West Indies team in the late 1990s, and has worked as a coach and commentator. He served as an ICC match referee from 2001 to 2006.
Lloyd is regarded as a transformative figure in West Indian cricket, having shaped a side that dominated international cricket for over a decade. His tenure established the template of fast-bowling-led, disciplined West Indies teams, and his record as a Test captain remains among the most successful in the sport's history.