Barry Richards (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Barry Richards
country = South Africa
fullname = Barry Anderson Richards
living = true
dayofbirth = 21
monthofbirth = 7
yearofbirth = 1945
placeofbirth = Durban
high school = Durban High School
countryofbirth = South Africa
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right arm off break
role = Batsman
international = true
testdebutdate = 22 January
testdebutyear = 1970
testdebutagainst = Australia
testc

lasttestdate = 5 March
lasttestyear = 1970
lasttestagainst = Australia
club1 = Natal
year1 = 1964 – 1983
club2 = Hampshire
year2 = 1968 – 1978
club3 = South Australia
year3 = 1970 – 1971
club4 = Gloucestershire
year4 = 1965
deliveries = balls
columns = 3
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 4
runs1 = 508
bat avg1 = 72.57
100s/50s1 = 2/2
top score1 = 140
deliveries1 = 72
wickets1 = 1
bowl avg1 = 26.00
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = 1/12
catches/stumpings1 = 3/–
column2 = FC
matches2 = 339
runs2 = 28358
bat avg2 = 54.74
100s/50s2 = 80/152
top score2 = 356
deliveries2 = 6126
wickets2 = 77
bowl avg2 = 37.48
fivefor2 = 1
tenfor2 = 0
best bowling2 = 7/63
catches/stumpings2 = 367/–
column3 = LA
matches3 = 233
runs3 = 8506
bat avg3 = 40.12
100s/50s3 = 16/50
top score3 = 155*
deliveries3 = 270
wickets3 = 7
bowl avg3 = 26.42
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = n/a
best bowling3 = 2/8
catches/stumpings3 = 106/–
date = 21 March
year = 2008
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/46982.html Cricinfo

Barry Anderson Richards (born 21 July 1945 in Durban) to Les and Doreen Richards was one of South Africa's finest ever cricketers and arguably the greatest opening batsman produced by his country. His technique was near perfect and his strokeplay, fluid and graceful. He attended Durban High School and for many years played club cricket for DHS Old Boys' Club. He was able to play only four Test matches - all against Australia - before South Africa's exclusion from the international scene in 1970. Even in that brief career, against a competitive Australian attack, Richards scored 508 runs at the extraordinary average of 72.57. Richards' contribution in that series was instrumental in the 4-0 win that South Africa inflicted on the side, captained by Bill Lawry. A particular highlight of the series was Richard's sparkling 140, scored in conjunction with another South African batting legend Graeme Pollock, who scored 274 runs in SA's first innings.

Richards was a prolific scorer in county cricket for several years, where he plied his trade for Hampshire and established one of the most successful opening partnerships for that county, along with the great West Indian batsman Gordon Greenidge. In June 1973 he walked out to open Hampshire's innings with Gordon Greenidge during a John Player League match against Sussex in Portsmouth with a bright orange bat as part of a marketing ploy. The MCC quickly banned the innovation.

The high point of Richards' first-class career probably came in the 1970-71 season and was indicative of his enormous talent. As an overseas player for South Australia against Western Australia, he scored 325 runs in a single day off an attack that boasted the likes of Dennis Lillee, Graham McKenzie, the Englishman Tony Lock and Tony Mann.

Returning home to play for Natal in the next 5 winters, he scored over 1000 runs in each season apart from 1 season. In each season he played a maximum of 12 games and only one other player managed 1000 runs in a season in that period, Graeme Pollock and he only managed it twice.

Amongst his other achievements was scoring 155 not out in a score of 215-3 off 40 overs in the John Player League v Yorkshire County Cricket Club at Hull on 7th June 1970. This achievement was put into further perspective when Yorkshire replied with 74-9 off their 40 overs. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/30/30904.html Scorecard v Yorkshire 1970] ]

He did have the opportunity for meaningful international cricket in World Series Cricket in the winters of 1977-78 and 1978-79 in Australia playing 5 Supertests for the World XI scoring 554 runs in 5 matches. This included two centuries including 207 scored v WSC Australia on 27th January 1978 at Gloucester Park, Perth. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/37/37808.html Scorecard v WSC Australia 1977-78] ]

He is set to become the president of Hampshire, following the death of incumbent Colin Ingeleby-MacKenzie. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/hampshire/6386929.stm Richards set for Hants presidency] ]

For a number of seasons he commentated for the South African Broadcasting Corporation as well as South Africa's MNet Supersport, before parting ways after a dispute. He has also commentated on Test Match Special when South Africa have toured England and will be teaming up with the Cricket on Five team to cover England Test series against South Africa and New Zealand in 2008.

Richards was chosen by Dickie Bird, the very experienced and highly respected English cricket umpire, writing in his autobiography, as a member of his Dream team, from all players he ever saw. Richards was also chosen by Sir Don Bradman as a member of his 20th century team as an opening batsman.

References