OTD | Former legendary West Indies batter Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards was born in 1952

There are many who play a sport, but there are very few who are remembered for the way they played that sport. When it comes to cricket, Sir Vivian Richards is a name that signifies unadulterated genius and an intimidating presence on the field. The West Indian great is celebrating his 72nd birthday today. Viv Richards made his international debut against India in a Test match in Bengaluru in November 1974. The youngster soon went on to make it into the ODI team as well. He made his limited-overs debut in 1975 against Sri Lanka. Richards announced his arrival into international cricket with an outstanding century against India in Delhi, where he played an unbeaten knock of 192 runs. These impressive outings helped him cement his place in both Test and ODI teams. What made him a bright prospect in that West Indies batting order was how he could express his game regardless of the match situation. Viv Richards was known for his relentless approach while batting. His attacking instincts made him a dangerous batsman to bowl to.

The West Indian Wizard

Sir Vivian Richards had a glorious career for West Indies as he was an integral part of two World Cup-winning sides in 1975 and 1979. During his playing days, he was arguably the most threatening batsman. The former West Indies skipper played 121 Tests and 187 ODIs in his almost two-decade-long international career. In Test matches, he scored 8540 runs at an extraordinary average of 50.23, while in 50-over cricket, he amassed 6721 runs. These stats are just a pale reflection of what his presence actually meant for his opponents. 

In modern cricket, there is a lot of emphasis on playing a free-flowing brand of cricket, but Viv Richards did this in the 80s and 90s, which is also a testimony to the fact that he was way ahead of his time. He will always serve as an inspiration for those who want to enjoy this game in their personalized style without imitating the textbook.