Swagger. That is the word used extensively to describe the batting style of Sir Vivian Richards. Aggressive batting was not a very common sight in the 1970s and 80s, but the term aggression is an understatement when it comes to describing Viv’s batting. Devastating would be a better term. With just a cap on (he never wore a helmet), he would slowly walk into the crease accompanied by huge cheers from the crowd, who demanded nothing but entertainment from him. Entertain he did, and poor bowlers from across the globe were reduced to mere bowling machines and the fielders to ball-boys who would run to the fence and fetch the ball.

But Viv Richards was not a slogger. 8000+ Test runs at a 50+ average with 24 centuries cannot possibly come from mere slogging. Add to that the 5 centuries he made in World Series cricket, and Richards will comfortably fall into one of the all-time best Test batsmen. He made his Test debut in 1974 in India, and scored an unbeaten 192 in his very second game. Just 2 years later, in 1976, Richards scored 1710 runs at an average of 90 with 7 centuries from 11 Tests. It remained a record for almost 30 years, until it was broken by Mohammad Yousuf in 2006. He also scored the fastest ever Test century, when he smashed a ton in just 56 balls against England in 1986.

In ODIs, Richards had a strike rate of 90+ when he retired, a feat which wasn’t too easy in those days. He was part of the World Cup winning West Indies sides of 1975 and 79, and even scored a century in the latter edition's final to help his side to the title.

The name Viv Richards is often associated with his destructive batting style (and rightly so), but not many remember him as one of the best captains for West Indies. In the period between 1984 and 1991, when he was the captain for 50 Tests, West Indies never lost even a single series. He was also widely respected for refusing a blank-cheque offer to play for the rebel West Indies tour to South Africa during the Apartheid period in 1983-84.

Richards also played County cricket in England for the Somerset team. He is one of the 4 non English batsmen to make 100 first class centuries. In 2000, he was named as one of the 5 Wisden Cricketers of the Century.

Interesting facts: Richards also played international football for Antigua, having represented them in the qualifying matches for the 1974 World Cup

In 1994, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cricket [Source: Wikipedia]

Richards had a brief affair with Indian actress, Neena Gupta and fathered a child - named Masaba.

The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a cricket stadium in North Sound, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, which is named in honour after him. It was built for use in the 2007 Cricket World Cup [Source: Wikipedia]

His son, Mali also took to cricket like a fish to water but has very little to show for when compared to the stellar feats of his father. Mali, a left handed batsman, has represented Middlesex and Leeward Islands.

By Karthik Lakshmanan