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Happy Birthday Viv Richards: Sir Viv Richards was known as ‘King Viv’ throughout his career because of his aggressive batting style and dominating presence in the game.
Happy Birthday Viv Richards: A post shared by Viv Richards on Instagram to wish Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday. (Image: officiallyvivian/Instagram)
Happy Birthday Viv Richards: Legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Vivian Richards celebrates his 73rd birthday today, March 7. Widely regarded as the most dominant Test batter of all time, the Caribbean all-rounder was a swaggering force of nature in the 20th century. He was also the emblem of West Indies’ supremacy in the 1970s and 80s.
Richards was known for his awesome power and devastating hook shots as he flicked bowlers regularly through midwicket. He won the ICC World Cup twice before retiring in 1991. Many claimed the West Indies legend delayed his departure as he failed to achieve any notable milestone in the 90s.
Since retiring, Richards has had occasional stints in commentary. He also served as a mentor for the Quetta Gladiators in T20 cricket.
Why Is Viv Richards known As King Viv?
Sir Viv Richards was known as ‘King Viv’ throughout his career because of his aggressive batting style and dominating presence in the game. As a batter, he always looked to dominate the world’s best bowlers in a way that often appeared arrogant to the onlooker.
His lightning-fast reflexes and brute force made up for his unconventional style. Richards never wore a helmet, which added to his persona and made him an all-time great.
Viv Richards’ Career Stats
Viv Richards has represented the West Indies in 187 ODIs and 121 Test matches. He scored 8540 runs and scalped 32 wickets in red ball cricket. He boasts another 6721 runs and 118 wickets in the limited-overs format.
The Caribbean all-rounder has a highest score of 291 in Tests and an unbeaten 189 in ODIs. Richards smashed 35 centuries for the West Indies in his senior career.
Viv Richards’ Records
Viv Richards boasts the second most Test runs (1710) in a calendar year. He has also smashed the second-most Test hundreds in one year with seven tons. Richards scored 11 consecutive Test fifties and was the third fastest to reach 5000 runs (in 95 innings) in the format.
Viv Richards has won seven Player of the Series awards in ODI cricket while boasting the highest percentage of runs in a completed innings (69.48). Richards needed 114 outings to score 5000 ODI runs, becoming the third-fastest player to reach the milestone.
He also holds the record for the highest partnership for the 10th wicket (106) in the fifty-over format.
In First Class cricket, Viv Richards racked up an astonishing 36,212 runs at an average of 49.4 and was one of the few cricketers to amass 100 FC centuries.
Viv Richards’ Achievements
In his decades-long career, Viv Richards guided the West Indies to consecutive ODI World Cup crowns in 1975 and 1979. He made a third successive final in 1983 but lost to a Kapil Dev-led India.
