Sir Viv Richards      

Full name Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards

Born March 7, 1952, St John's, Antigua

Current age 57 years 260 days

Major teams West Indies, Combined Islands, Glamorgan, Leeward Islands, Queensland, Somerset

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm slow

Other Coach

Relation Brother - D Richards, Brother - M Richards, Son - MA Richards

You knew when he was coming. The outgoing batsman would already have disappeared into the pavilion, and the expectation of what was to follow filled the air. Viv kept you waiting ... time to ponder. Then he appeared, sauntering, swaggering, arms windmilling slowly. He would take guard, and then, head tilted back slightly and cudding his gum, he would walk a few paces down the pitch to tap it while looking the bowler in the eye. It was calculated menace and magnificent theatre from arguably the most devastating batsman of all time. How to bowl to him? Get him to the other end, perhaps. Hold your nerve, do not take what might follow as personal. Occasionally he was vulnerable early on if his desire to dominate overwhelmed him. But he had no weakness until his eyesight infinitesimally, but inevitably, started to let him down and those eye-shots became harder. His strengths were on the front foot. So far forward could he get that he was able to plant that left foot outside the line of off stump, at once eliminating lbw and creating his own leg-stump line from where he would flick bowlers relentlessly through midwicket. Or he might send a similar ball skimming through extra cover. Straighten the ball down the line of the stumps and the bowler stood a chance, but he rarely missed and they ran a terrible risk. His power was awesome, he hooked devastatingly and never wore a helmet, rocking back from his front-foot base to take the ball from his eyeline in front of square. Occasionally, for no apparent reason, he would block an over in immaculate fashion, seemingly in defensive position before the ball had left the bowler's hand. Then, refreshed, off he would go again.
Mike Selvey October 2004

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1977

Walter Lawrence Trophy 1980

Walter Lawrence Trophy 1986

Selected as one of the Five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, 2000

Jun 1, 2009

Illustration for Dean Jones' Favourite Cricket Story

© Cricinfo Ltd

Feb 13, 2009

Viv Richards headshot

© Getty Images

Jun 11, 2008

Allen Stanford poses with Sir Viv Richards and Sir Ian Botham

© Getty Images

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