Viv Richards – the Master Blaster(From one of my old newspaper articles in 1987)
Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards — the lion-heart, who bears no relationship to the British King of yore, has invaded the Caribbean batting scene like the Colossus of Rhodes. With his uninhibited stroke-play and daring temperament, he has been an anathema to all his rival bowlers.
This magnificent cricketer has risen like phoenix from the ashes to grind and grovel his opponents in an irrepressible manner, and goes on forever like a legend whose exploits cannot be controlled or
checked by mortal beings. The unique feature about this super-human batsman, is his ability to flex himself to play a power packed cover drive or to loft the ball over the mid wicket boundary, although a moment earlier his ntention was to play a forward defensive stroke. Obviously, this quality has stemmed from his natural ability.
Among the glowing tributes that have been paid to Richards by his ardent fans include his Somerset team mate David Foot who comments "Acclaimed as the most exhilarating and inspirational batsman in contemporary cricket, Viv Richards has joined a select band of all-time greats within such a short span of time. The sheer might of his stroke play, exquisite timing and unassuming demeanour have enthralled spectators round the world."
Viv Richards is the most attractive sort of hero. His is a genius. He flirts with the record books and monopolises them. I have talked to him between innings, showers girl friends and occasionally headaches. Never was I conscious of any sign of temperament or swagger on his part. One of the greatest cricketers the West Indies has produced.
The discovery of Vivian Richards in Antigua by a Somerset cricket club committee man — Ian Creed is already a part of West Country history. For Viv who became arguably one of the best batsmen in the world within a span of four years, it has been progress from Club Cricket at Bath, county cricket for Somerset and the inevitable Test Cricket for the West Indies. On a Summer evening after a day's cricket at Taunton, he confesses he was amazed how medium pace bowlers have put a mid wicket back to the boundary to curb him. His own Test colleague Malcolm Marshall says of Richards "He has flawless timing, strong hands, powerful shoulders and a comfortable stance. I have never seen anyone hit the ball so hard with so little effort. Plenty of players hit the ball hard, but not with Viv's apparent lack of effort".
David Foot has often remarked "He hits the ball so hard and has put it between the tomb stones at St. James Church Yard at Taunton and into the gent's lavatories, and not curiously enough into Riverstone — the one time speciality of Arthur Ward".
Richards asks "Do you know the most shattering experiences of my life. Not standing up to Lillee or Thommo or seeing the Gillette Cup and Sunday League slip agonisingly away from Somerset. It was the days when Andy Roberts and I stepped out from an Aircraft into the glaring sunlight at Coolidge to be greeted at different times by two of Antigua's Prime Ministers, George Walter and Vere. C. Bird. We had not expected the Red carpet treatment. Suddenly, it was there to welcome us after the tours of India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and then — after we had beaten England. They asked about the Indian spinners, the crowd riots, my runs and Andy's wickets. I looked hard at Andy in panic as if to say "Hey, star. what have we done"' My eyes darted around the scores of familiar faces at the airport. Many of them genuine cricket fans and friends and some included those who cat-called in front of my house when I was suspended."
Socially a quiet character, Richards prefers a quiet corner. Public chatter about the game and his individual contributions often embarrasses him. Richards feels that it must be something of the Caribbean temperament that allows them to take surprises in their stride. During the afternoon of the Bath Cricket Club Festival in 1974, when a reporter from the "Bristol Evening Post" broke the news that he had been selected to play for the West Indies on the tour of Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, his legs had caved in. In this maiden Test series against India, in the First Test which the West Indies had won by 267 runs Richards feels that his performance was dismal: 4 in the first innings and 3 in the second on both occasions falling to star spinner — Chandrasekhar — Holing out to extra cover and misreading the spin to edge a simple catch to gully.
Centuries in games at Poona and Jullundur were sufficiently effective to raise the standards above the county level in England.
The Indian spinners had the psychological edge at Delhi, even in spite of the Caribbean victory in the First Test. Lloyd sent Richards at No. 5 and along with it came a whirlwind performance — an unbeaten 192 and an innings win for the west Indies.
Richards had vivid impressions of the West Indies tour of England in 1976. Having gone down to Australia, Manager Clyde Walcot had made it clear that "If you lose to England, things will go badly at home. In redeeming some of the lost prestige it was to be a killer series. Having drawn the first two Tests, the West Indies clinched the last three, and with it the series. Richards individual contribution, a double century in the First Test at Trent Bridge and rounding off the series with 291 at the Oval which was considered as a highlight of his batting career. During the breaks one or two spectators grinned and said "ViVi, you are on your way to break Gary Sobers record (SIR GARFIELD SOBERS HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST SCORE IN A TEST INNINGS - 365 NOT OUT AGAINST PAKISTAN) Nevertheless, he had broken the previous best Test score of 261 set up by Sir Frank Worrell for a West Indian batsman in England in 1950.
The England series was followed by the Indians who toured the Caribbean. Richards, by nature who shun, publicity says life was beautiful and the embarrassing kind of civic reception at the airport. Vivi is the boy to watch. Richards feels that he escaped the jaded feeling of knocking out his own team-mates. Centuries in the three of the four Tests at Bridgetown and Port of Spain and decided that he was born lucky with a remarkable average of 92.66!!
Apart from his brilliant Test career, Richards has also given a number of fine performances in the World Series Cricket with Kerry Packer. Beating Pakistan in the semi final and England in the final. While Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas were on the rampage together in a 36 over stand of 166 things looked grim. Colin Croft returned to the Vauxall end of the Oval. Within a space of twelve deliveries — EXIT Zaheer Abbas, Majid Khan and Javed Miandad. Richards too took the cue and took three wickets. They met England next at Lords in the final. Collis King was Richard's ally this time, when he came up with a spirited knock of 86 and Richards a sparkling 138 not out. At the termination of 60 overs he had topped the averages with 108.50.
Next was the three Test tour of Australia in which Richards was bothered by groin and back injuries. Smarting from failures from five previous visits they had something to prove. Never had they taken the field with more resolution. Like the rest of the team, Richards had sealed his success. Winning two Tests and the other drawn, things as usual more than often had gone his way winning two Tests and the other drawn.
Starting with 140 at Brisbane following up with 96 at Melbourne and ending up with 76 and 74 at Adelaide with a remarkable average of 96.50! "Even though I was on the treatment table, it was a good tour."
On returning from that Australian tour Richards recalls he was taking a little Caribbean relaxation to make arrangements and fitness for the England tour in 1980. Making arrangements to play county matches for Somerset and of course, a century for old times sake against Somerset for the West Indies. In fact both did it. Richards and Skipper Clive Lloyd both got tons.
The West Indies just got home by two wickets at Trent Bridge. Botham — his Somerset team mate bowling a beauty to have Richards LBW — both exchanging fleeting grins.
The Second Test saw Botham trying his best to get Richards to play on the off. Botham reckons to have known Richard's strength more than his weakness. 145 and the game in favour of the all conquering West Indies after the score book had recorded the belligerent 184 by Desmond Haynes in a Windier total of M8.
When it came to the Third Test at Manchester, the pundits seemed to think that Richards was involved in a vendetta with Bob Willis. The journalists gave their impressions and imaginations. 53 in an innings of 65 runs coming from Bob Willis This was perfect with the rest of the Windies batting in all sorts of trouble. Five consecutive boundaries from the first seven balls. Ten boundaries in the first 44 runs. However, for months after the match Richards recalls having felt saucy having read a press report that Bob Willis and a few others knew the art of beating him. He wouldn't have it.
Another sentimental occasion for Richards on that England tour was the county match against Glamorgan which was played at Swansea — the old rugby ground where he made his debut for Somerset. He says "I was in a bit of hurry and the bowling was too much for my liking". Exploding into action, Richards hit nine sixes and nine boundaries and reaching his century in just twenty four overs, seventy five runs coming from just twenty three minutes after tea!
At the end of the match, he had a special word of congratulations for Eition Jones. In stumping Richards, Jones had broken the existing Glamorgan record of 783 scalps for a wicket-keeper. It also created a sentimental mark for Richards —The Lawrence Trophy for the fastest century for the season which came up in 66 minutes.
The Caribbean cricketers were packing their bags again and this time the destination was Pakistan. The one century that Richards scored at Multan was his maiden ton against Pakistan taking a long time for it suffering from a leg strain during the major portion his innings. The-match was given village touch of cricket with the umpire arriving late. This Test was also controversial for Sylvester Clarke who is said to have thrown in brick, after a few oranges were thrown at him.
The next was England's turn to tour the Caribbean which included Viv's Somerset colleague — Ian Botham. The West Indies were not at their brilliant best with their battery of fast bowlers who were usually magnificent. There was also the cancellation of the Guyana Test with the death of Ken Barrington.
The Third Test at Bridgetown wits clouded when Ken had died on the second night of the match. The ground itself was not Richard's favourite since 38 was his highest score in eight innings. Richards ended up with an epoch 182 as the Wisden Cricket Almanac wrote "THE BREAK OF THE BARBADOS HOODOO!!!
The next Test had to be special in every way. Firstly, the inaugural Test match for the St. John's ground and secondly Richards had been requested to give his newly married wife — Mariam a fitting wedding present: a century. His confident start with eleven fours and a six to crown the Test match as a token of love for his wife enabled him to get a century before Graham Dilley had him caught by John Emburey for 114.
With the West Indies cricketers into the jets again, for the 1981-2 to Australia in which they won the First drew the second and won the third. In seven years of Test Cricket Richard's remarkable aggregate of 4129 runs. "Cricketer International" Richards was wasting good space. However good in intent in comparing him with the legendary Don Bradman.
Richards has been the epitomy of perfection in the art of batsmanship, merciless hitting and deft placement of ball shows his brilliance.
