Several prominent personalities including former cricketer and legendary fast bowler and all-rounder Imran Khan and noted writer John Birmingham are of the opinion that Richards was the best ever batsman against genuine fast bowling. He played his entire 17-year career without a helmet. Wasim Akram rates Richards the greatest batsman he ever bowled to.
The ICC came out with their rankings for the best batsmen and bowlers in the history of the game for both the longer and shorter versions.