Sir Viv Richards : A Bowler's Nightmare !
No. It was not a common sight. The ball missed king Viv's bat 3 times in a row. The audience was thrilled at the amazing spectre their home bowler Greg Thompson was pulling off, on this ground nestled alongside river Thames.
The crowd behind him and the king's sword lashing out fruitlessly, Greg in a trance of allness-fallacy walked upto Viv and asked "Is there something wrong with the edge of your Bat?".
The applause increased as the ball played hide and seek successfuly with Viv's bat for the fouth time. Allness-fallacy for Gerg was now a thing of the past, and the jubiliant, self-proclaimed perfection personnified, bowler strode down the pitch and said to Viv "It seems you cannot see the ball anymore, but I'll tell you something, it is red in colour, round and 3 and 1/2 inchies in diameter" and with a sarcastic smile he continued "If you see it, you'll know what a ball is".
No sir. You don't do that. Its against the law of nature. If you are up against the Tiger, the king of the jungle, make sure you go all the way with the kill. You do not need an injured tiger alive. Or as was Viv' case, still NOT OUT.
Greg walked upto his run-up , totally ignorant of what a scene would unfold the very next ball. Amazing eye-hand co-ordination, brutish strength, inborn talent and fury of the injured tiger were all packed into the shot which Viv played of the the ball pitched just outside the off stump. After Viv's swing was completed, the red cherry whoese comprehensive description was given by Greg moments earlier, soared over the side screen, over the stands, out of the stadium and went for a swim in the river Thames.
As Greg looked at the ball dissapear in the blue sky he was interrupted by the King's voice "Everybody is now searching for the ball, but since you know its description so well I believe you have a better chance of finding it".
5 hours later Greg and Viv were having a good time over a glass of beer. And till date are good friends.
Thats the way the king played his game. Making his debut on our planet on March 7, 1952, Viv was a typical Carribean boy. He was baptized as Issac Vivian Alexander Richards in St.John's, Antigua.
Cricket was literally in his blood, with his father Malcom Richards being Antigua's fast bowler for many years. However the blood type did not match, as Viv prefered to swing the bat more than his arm. Talking about "Swinging his arm" Viv was nicknamed Smokin' joe, beacuse of his resemblance to boxer Joe Fraiser.
Latest Articles