cricinfo is spot on: The man who gave “swagger” new meaning in cricket, Richards was the most destructive batsman of his era, and while there are many with greater records, few could take on, intimidate, and rip to shreds bowling attacks like he did.
Quotes:
Imran Khan: ‘The genius of my time’
Colin Croft: ‘The ‘Muhammad Ali’ of cricket’
Ian Botham: ‘I find it very hard to believe that there has ever been a better batsman than Viv’
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
No one can bat like this guy IMO
What wonderful stance and grace at the crease, simply majestic. And what great reflexes and hitting, just great to watch..
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
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
**Viv Richards’ brutal strokeplay **
And I agree with the following comment
“Greatest batsmen were those who played during this era. No helmets, inferior bats, slower outfields, less body protection, dangerous bowlers, bowler friendly tracks. Today it is too easy for batsmen.”
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
no...
not better than Mr. Tendulkar. Over two decades in international cricket and he is still the best player in world. None of the players in those days wore pads or helmets. How can that be criteria in judging their batting skills. That way all the batmen in those days are better than todays player.
How about the amount of cricket being played these days. Plus the all the different formats, plus the pressure that they are under (especially the subcontinent where there are plenty of bench players to take your place). If you looks at Viv Richards playing you would notice that he is really care free. I dont think anyone can handle the pressure of the fans as well as Sachin does without ruining your game.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
And ‘carefree’…that is the whole point. Viv never played for his records or averages etc. The rest incl. Border, Miandad, Chappell and Gavaskar, i.e. the other great batters of his era, all did
Imran Khan on Viv Richards
**Viv Richards was head and shoulders above everyone else. A genius. It was his reflexes, his timing, lightning footwork and his attitude. He was very courageous - a batsman who would take on challenges. His statistical record does not reflect his ability or the number of match-winning innings he played. **He used to get bored, whereas other batsmen would bat for their averages …hahahaa so true!!!
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
no...
not better than Mr. Tendulkar. Over two decades in international cricket and he is still the best player in world. None of the players in those days wore pads or helmets. How can that be criteria in judging their batting skills. That way all the batmen in those days are better than todays player.
How about the amount of cricket being played these days. Plus the all the different formats, plus the pressure that they are under (especially the subcontinent where there are plenty of bench players to take your place). If you looks at Viv Richards playing you would notice that he is really care free. I dont think anyone can handle the pressure of the fans as well as Sachin does without ruining your game.
LoL, I bet u were born after 80s. Windies of the 80s were better than any team out there today.
The bowlers were fast, skilled and ruthless. Richards has played the likes of Thomson, Lillie, Imran to name a few
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
True. Noone looks as majestic, stylish and graceful at the crease as Viv Richards. He was simply awesome. I used to miss school in the late 80s just to watch Viv bat! I am referring to the 1986/7 series when mighty Windies toured Pakistan for 5 one-dayers. Imran had just come back into the side after a prolonged absence from the game due to stress fracture of ankle. Viv played him like he was a spinner. Windies won the series 3-2
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
Same here. I was looking for Banjamin sisters kaloo dewane song on the internet to post here. That song has some nice clips...injured Asif Mujtaba, Mohsin, Mudassar and rock solid Miandad.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
There are many players in todays game that can stroke the ball as well as Sir Viv Richards. Gilchrist, Hayden, Sehwag to name a few. and their record are pretty spectacular as well.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
There are many players in todays game that can stroke the ball as well as Sir Viv Richards. Gilchrist, Hayden, Sehwag to name a few. and their record are pretty spectacular as well.
If you want an idea of Richards, combine the presence of Hayden, the shot making of Gilchrist and the simplicity of Sehwag's batting and even then you're not close.
The man had presence, the kind that you had to see to truly know. He literally intimidated fast bowlers, not the other way around. No one in today's batting era matched up in those terms.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
True. Noone looks as majestic, stylish and graceful at the crease as Viv Richards. He was simply awesome. I used to miss school in the late 80s just to watch Viv bat! I am referring to the 1986/7 series when mighty Windies toured Pakistan for 5 one-dayers. Imran had just come back into the side after a prolonged absence from the game due to stress fracture of ankle. Viv played him like he was a spinner. Windies won the series 3-2
I remember that one game in that series where WI were chasing a challenging total of 200+ in 40 overs, Viv came out and blasted like 80+ runs of 38 or 39 balls.....such an inning if played today will get labelled as city moment of success, reliance kamal kaa moment etc etc and Viv used to do that 30 years ago.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
There are many players in todays game that can stroke the ball as well as Sir Viv Richards. Gilchrist, Hayden, Sehwag to name a few. and their record are pretty spectacular as well.
lol comparing Sehwag with Viv. As good a batsman as Sehwag is, he does not even come close to the class of Viv Richards. If Sehwag played on pitches with a bit of life his lack of footwork would be seriously exposed. Viv used to instill fear in fast bowlers, not the other way around. He could treat quickies like they were village net bowlers. He was a unique talent. All the rules that have been introduced since the 80s have benefited the batsmen more than bowlers. Much of the sting has been taken out of fast bowling with the introduction of one bouncer per batsman per over rule, more technology and neutral umpires. There are not many lively pitches around. Fast bowlers can no longer intimidate or terrify a batsman or afford to be really aggressive. If they tried to they w'd be no-balled by the umpires! Test cricket was more competitive back in the 80s. The quality of fast bowling is not the same with so much pressure on bowlers these days. The amount of one-day cricket is particularly demanding for fast bowlers, you don't have the luxury of loosening up.
Being nicknamed 'The King' says it all. You can dig out all the stats you want, and you'll see that there were batsmen that scored more runs and had better averages but NOBODY could destroy any bowling attack like Viv. If he was in the mood, then there was nothing any bowler could do about it. What's more he did it with such grace and power. I read on BBC a while ago that the worst thing to do was to try and hurt Viv Richards because when he started limping on the pitch, bowlers knew that a horrible pasting was imminent!
If you are a real cricket fan, take time out and research the history of Viv. He achieved when it mattered, his team was under pressure, in hostile environments, on fast wickets. Oh, and did I mention the fact that he never wore a helmet?
Viv had an aura and presence that is so hard to describe or put into words.
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
GA, a case can be made that possibly Gorden was as good a batsman as Viv, strictly speaking batting wise....He was just not the same personality as Viv so he gets ignored a lot. I think he was one the greatest batsman who does not get as much of recognition as he deserves. He was one phenomenal batsman, who had heart of a lion!
Re: Sir Viv Richards: Arguably The Greatest Player Of Our Time
lol comparing Sehwag with Viv. As good a batsman as Sehwag is, he does not even come close to the class of Viv Richards. If Sehwag played on pitches with a bit of life his lack of footwork would be seriously exposed. Viv used to instill fear in fast bowlers, not the other way around. He could treat quickies like they were village net bowlers. He was a unique talent. All the rules that have been introduced since the 80s have benefited the batsmen more than bowlers. Much of the sting has been taken out of fast bowling with the introduction of one bouncer per batsman per over rule, more technology and neutral umpires. There are not many lively pitches around. Fast bowlers can no longer intimidate or terrify a batsman or afford to be really aggressive. If they tried to they w'd be no-balled by the umpires! Test cricket was more competitive back in the 80s. The quality of fast bowling is not the same with so much pressure on bowlers these days. The amount of one-day cricket is particularly demanding for fast bowlers, you don't have the luxury of loosening up.
Being nicknamed 'The King' says it all. You can dig out all the stats you want, and you'll see that there were batsmen that scored more runs and had better averages but NOBODY could destroy any bowling attack like Viv. If he was in the mood, then there was nothing any bowler could do about it. What's more he did it with such grace and power. I read on BBC a while ago that the worst thing to do was to try and hurt Viv Richards because when he started limping on the pitch, bowlers knew that a horrible pasting was imminent!
If you are a real cricket fan, take time out and research the history of Viv. He achieved when it mattered, his team was under pressure, in hostile environments, on fast wickets. Oh, and did I mention the fact that he never wore a helmet?
Viv had an aura and presence that is so hard to describe or put into words.
Reverse, why bother replying to someone who gets his facts ONLY from cricinfo filters
