Richie Richardson      

Full name Richard Benjamin Richardson

Born January 12, 1962, Five Islands Village, Antigua

Current age 47 years 303 days

Major teams West Indies, Leeward Islands, Northerns, West Indies B, Windward Islands, Yorkshire

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Out of the shadow of Viv emerged Richie. Richards followed by Richardson was somehow genealogically appropriate. There was a contrast, though. Richards was volatile and explosive in word and deed. His successor as West Indies captain was genteel and gentle, unfailingly courteous, and modest. He stood for sportsmanship in an age where such values were beginning to disappear, and deserved better than the shabby underhand powerbrokering that eventually saw him dethroned. Like Richards, he also declined to wear a helmet, and his wide-brimmed maroon sunhat became a trademark. He was a destructively brilliant batsman, particularly on hard pitches where he could throw the bat through the line with abandon, carving the ball square. He hooked willingly too, usually up, frequently for six. Criticism was usually directed at his lack of concentration, but he was capable of that: his 69 grafted out over four hours on a vile pitch at Edgbaston in 1995 was a masterly exhibition of bad-wicket play. He reserved his finest innings for the Australians: only Jack Hobbs has bettered his nine centuries against them. The finest was at Georgetown in March 1991, when he blasted 182, including 106 in the final session of the first day. Mike Selvey

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1992

Jul 25, 2008

David Lloyd, Richie Richardson and Kevin Pietersen

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Apr 6, 2007

Richie Richardson bowls during a game of beach cricket

© AFP

Apr 6, 2007

Richie Richardson takes part in a beach cricket game between the Antigua Legends and the visiting journalists

© AFP

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