Sir Viv Richards... One of The Cricketers of The Century
Sir Viv Richards
made his Test debut as a twenty two year old, under new captain Clive
Lloyd on the 1974-75 tour of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Richards
was seen as the brightest of a whole new bunch of
talented players who had been sent to India under Lloyd. In
the second Test at Delhi Richards announced himself to the cricketing
world with a chanceless 192 not out. In due course Viv Richards was to
be acclaimed the greatest batsman of his time. He was named one of the
five Wisden cricketers of the century in 2002.
Sir Viv Richards came from
Antigua an island which, until then, had never made a mark on
West Indies cricket. Not until he and Andy Roberts emerged did the
island have any real cricketing heroes of its own. The desire to
succeed was thus all the more. He learnt his cricket on the beach and
had done enough by the age of 19 to have people saying he was the best
prospect the island had ever had.
A brilliant aggresive batsman
Viv Richards was particularly strong off the front foot. His strokeplay
was intimidatory to oposition bowlers, he rely on his sharp
eye-sight, and his great physical strength and power to punish the
bowlers severely. Despite playing in an era dominated by some of the
finest fast bowlers ever to play the game Richards opted to wear a cap
rather than a cricket helmet. In 1979-80 after being struck in the face
from a Rodney Hogg delivery the next ball went soaring into the stands
for six and Richards continued to massacre Hogg until he left the field
injured with figures of none for 59 from six overs.
Richards was made captain of the
West Indies for two years when Clive Lloyd retired form Test cricket in
1985. He captain West Indies in 50 matches from 1985-87 and
never lost a series, he won 27 and lost 8 matches.
Richards ended his career with a Test average of just over 50 - and a
top score of 291 made against England at The Oval in 1976. He was also
a brilliant cover point fielder, in 1975 at Lord's in the first World
Cup Final, he spectacularly ran out three Australians. Towards the end
of his career he fielded in the slips, where little escaped him. He
could bowl medium pace and off-breaks.
After retiring from Test
cricket, Sir Vivian Richards was coach of the West Indies team and
chairman of selectors, he also received an honorary knighthood for his
services to cricket, and was named as one of Wisden Five Cricketers of
the Century in 2000. In the good company of Sir Donald Bradman, Sir
Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne and Sir Garfield Sobers. He is
currently one of the Standford 20:20 legends with responsibility for
Guyana.
Sir Viv Richards Test Cricket
Statistics
| Full Name |
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander
Richards |
|
Number
of Test
|
121 |
| Number
of ODIs |
187 |
|
Test Run Aggregate
|
8,540 |
| ODI Run Aggregate |
6,721 |
|
Test
Batting Average
|
50.23
|
| ODI
Batting Average |
47.00 |
|
Total Test Wickets
|
32 |
| Total ODI Wickets |
118 |
|
Test Bowling Average
|
61.37 |
| ODI Bowling Average |
35.83 |
|
Test
Centuries
|
24 |
| ODI
Centuries |
11 |
|
Date of Birth
|
March
7, 1952, St John's, Antigua |
|
Test Debut
|
India
v West Indies at Bangalore - Nov 22-27, 1974 |
|
ODI Debut
|
Sri Lanka v West Indies at
Manchester - Jun 7, 1975 |
|
Last Test Match
|
England
v West Indies at The Oval - Aug 8-12, 1991 |
| Last ODI Match |
England v West Indies at
Lord's - May 27, 1991 |
|
Batting
Style
|
Right hand bat |
|
Bowling
Style
|
Right-arm slow |
|
|
|
| Screenshot |
Description |
 |
Cricket
Legends These players are the 50 greatest cricketers of
the century, as voted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges assembled by
ESPN. The panelists were asked to list in order, their top 50 players.
Cricketing legends from Australia, England, India, New Zealand,
Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies all made it to the final 50.
Among them are some famous West Indies fast bowlers, great Aussie
legends, and modern heros of the game. Disc 5 features the great George
Headley. |
| Format |
Pages |
Cost |
| NTSC - DVD |
|
£124.99 |
Visit
the Cricket Legends Web Site  |
|
| Screenshot |
Description |
 |
Viv Richards The definitive
Autobiography by Vivian Richards. For the first time since
retirement, Richards tells the whole story. He pulls no punches telling
of the humiliation for the West Indies at the hands of Thomson and
Lillee, the days at Somerset flat sharing with Ian Botham, through to
the world's fastest test century. |
| Format |
Pages |
Cost |
| Paper Back Book |
|
£6.99 |
| Visit
the Sir Vivian Richards, Autobiography Web Site
|
|
| Screenshot |
Description |
 |
Cricket
Legend - Viv Richards: Richie Benaud introduces the
career of one of the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen. |
| Format |
|
Cost |
| NTSC - US Region DVD |
|
£24.99 |
| Visit
the Legend Viv Richards DVD Web Site |
|
