Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:46 pm  

Happy birthday King Viv

Am I alone in rating Viv as the greatest batsman of my lifetime of watching cricket?

I would put him ahead of Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting.

Viv batted with no helmet in an era with guys like Lillee, Thomson, Hadlee, Imran, Willis, Wasim Akram, he smashed all comers round to all sides of the park.

For sure Tendulkar is a fantastic player with a faultless technique but Viv was on his own for me as a batsman able to intimidate the bowlers and fielders and take the game away from his opponents.

Re: Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:54 pm  

Totally agree. He was the iconic player in the best cricket team ever.

[John_D]

Re: Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:14 pm  

Stuff what I wrote

Stuff what I wrote

Re: Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:41 pm  

Some of those B+H/NatWest matches in the early 80's, when Botham used to join him at the crease at No6 for Somerset, were "must see TV".

The word legend (in sport) is used far too freely these days. For Richards, it sat perfectly.

Re: Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:35 pm  

Inspired Glamorgan to the Sunday League in 1993 and turned the team into winners which carried on through to the Championship win of 1997 and beyond (shame they are so gutless and non descript again these days).

Another sporting legend has a notable birthday today.....Peter Manley is 50.

Re: Sir Viv Richards turns 60 : Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:30 am  

It also puts into perspective the decline of the Windies. From world domination via swashbuckling batting combined with incredible fast bowlers, to the current crop of pub cricketers, and no sign of any improvement.

I like asking Aussies how they reckon Sir Don's average would have fared had he faced Marshall, Holding, Garner and co at their peak - in the West Indies under unlimited bouncers. I suspect he may have managed slightly less than 100 average....