Talk:Viv Richards/Archive 1

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Archive 1

Viv Photo

Oh come on!!! He's not that dark!!! You've got him looking like a gangster turning Queen's evidence on a bunch of Mafia figures!! Has anyone got a more glorious pic...maybe a beautiful square drive...or cool hook? I've still got that magnificent SS Bat with the Viv signature. From the land of great cricketing champions Jaker5 16:46, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

are you implying tht the more black you are the more likely you are to be acrminal?

Lets not make this a debate. I think we all agree we need a photo chewing gum and glaring nonchalantly at the bowler. Or a photo of him playing a hook shot.Whizkid 0000 (talk) 11:09, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

Helmet

Is it really true that Viv never ever wore a cricket helmet? jguk 13:12, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)

No, never. What, never? Well, hardly ever...
Sorry - Gilbert and Sullivan moment.
According to cricinfo that is the case: His power was awesome, he hooked devastatingly and never wore a helmet... [1] The BBC thinks says so too: Such was his confidence, he rejected the helmet in favour of the cap... [2].
The Age makes some interesting comments on the introduction of cricket helmets here.
Can you think of an occasion when he did? (To be fair, the statement "never" is a bit strong - perhaps it ought to say "very rarely".) -- ALoan (Talk) 14:45, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)
It's the "never" bit I'm not sure about. It's just that presumably he would have tried one on, and then decided he was uncomfortable in it - rather than just never trying one on. Of course, this could have all been in the nets. On [3] it quotes Richards as saying, "I wanted to be comfortable at the crease and putting on a helmet didn't give you that added comfort. My dentist gave me a mouthpiece to use, but I abandoned those mouthpieces as well so that I could chew my gum in little more comfort. I loved chewing gum. It was part of Viv Richards' ritual." Which backs up the presumption that he must have tried wearing a helmet.
Whether he ever tested one out in a match, though, I do not know. Next time I see him, I'll ask him (but given I've only ever passed him a small number of times on the stairs, I doubt that'll be any time soon:( ) jguk 18:58, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)
This Guardian interview [4] also repeats the claim that Richards never wore a helmet. Lisiate 23:20, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

Right arm slow

Should it be "medium"? it has a link to fast bowling too. 81.208.167.238 15:29, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

Very short article

This article - as with most of the cricket articles - is surely far too short. Wikipedia really needs to sort that out —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.106.184.152 (talk) 22:36, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

Non-English cricketers to make 100 first-class centuries

Graeme Hick may be Zimbabwean-born but was an England international, therefore shouldn't be listed here —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.152.93.186 (talk) 13:23, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

the greatest ODI batsmen

It's a pretty close call between Sachin and Viv, I personally place Viv slightly ahead, but many cricket fans will disagree......he's not the undisputed no. 1 of ODI cricket like Bradman for tests... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.124.247.56 (talk) 19:09, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

the greatest ODI batsmen

It's a pretty close call between Sachin and Viv, I personally place Viv slightly ahead, but many cricket fans will disagree......he's not the undisputed no. 1 of ODI cricket like Bradman for tests... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.124.247.56 (talk) 19:09, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

FIFA World Cup

I just read somewhere on the web that he is the only player to play both the cricket n football worldcups. I feel that should be mentioned with details —Preceding unsigned comment added by 171.159.194.10 (talk) 14:22, 15 February 2011 (UTC)

291

Which test did he get this is in please? I thought he got 271 against England or am I getting confused? If these are two different test scores I'd like to know about both please. (I've tried searching for these without success.) Thanks in advance. SmokeyTheCat 08:35, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Good source material

Available here --Dweller (talk) 11:12, 7 March 2012 (UTC)

And this [5] --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:36, 16 August 2017 (UTC)

Issues

This article has some issues. Apart from the very flowery language and lack of balance (sportsmen's articles are nearly always written by fans, so it's to be expected), the 'personality' section doesn't describe his personality, and the career section doesn't mention when he retired. There's nothing about his upbringing, either. I'll have a go at some editing/re-writes when I get some time, but if anyone else wants to give it a go first they're more than welcome. BearAllen (talk) 07:46, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

Agreed and thanks, User:BearAllen. --Dweller (talk) 17:01, 10 February 2015 (UTC)

Early Life Placeholder

I'm going to write an early life introduction. The article doesn't seem to have education, parents (father was a well-known cricket player in Antigua), relations (some of whom I think played also), his headmaster Mr Loydston Jacobs who encouraged his talent at grammar school, etc.

What I'll do is place it here for other editors to read since this is not an area that I normally tackle. When I've done enough details I'll paste it into the article and you can just revert if you dislike my edit. The early life details may provide a wider context for readers.

I'll be using the book Viv Richards by Viv Richards and David Foot. Published 1979 by World Works Ltd (UK). ISBN 437 14470 4.

I'm reading it at the moment. Good stuff.


Early Career (Proposed Text)

Vivian Richards was born in St. John's, Antigua to Malcolm and Gretel Richards. He attended St.John's Boys School and then Antigua Grammar on a scholarship. Richards received encouragement at Antigua Grammar from sports teacher, Mr Reginald Samuels as well as from Mr Loydston Jacobs, the headmaster; both considered that he had promise. Richards initially trained with his father and Pat Evanson, a neighbour and family friend, who had captained the Antigua cricket side. He received further encouragement from his brothers, Mervyn and Donald, both of whom played for Antigua.

Richards left school at 18 securing employment at D'Arcy's Bar and Restaurant in St.John's as well as joining St.John's Cricket Club. The owner of the restaurant, D'Arcy Williams, provided Richards with new whites, gloves, pads and bat. After a few seasons with St.John's C.C he joined the Rising Sun C.C where he would remain until his departure to play abroad. At the age of 22, after having played matches in the Antigua, Leeward Islands and Combined Islands tournaments, he was scouted by Len Creed, Vice Chairman at Somerset C.C., who was in Antigua at the time as part of a West Country touring side.

Richards relocated to the UK where Len Creed arranged for him to play League cricket for Lansdown C.C. in Bath. He made his Lansdown debut, as part of the second XI, at Weston-super-Mare on 26th April 1973. Richards was also employed by the club as assistant groundsman to head groundsman, John Heyward, to allow him some financial independence until his career was established. After his debut he was promoted to the first team where he was introduced to the Lansdown all-rounder "Shandy" Perera from Ceylon. Richards cites Perera as a major influence on his cricket development especially with regards to post-game analysis. He finishes his first season at Lansdown with top batting averages and was shortly afterwards offered a two year contract with county side Somerset.

Richards relocated to Taunton in 1974 in preparation for his Somerset debut where he was assigned living accommodation by the club; a flat-share with two other young county players: Ian Botham and Dennis Breakwell. On 27 April 1974 Richards made his debut for Somerset against Glenmorgan in Swansea; after the game Somerset skipper Brian Close arranged a player's ovation to Richards in recognition of his playing and contribution to the victory. Richards was awarded Man of the Match.

END

Sluffs (talk) 14:54, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

Certainly a good starting point. Go ahead and add it as far as I'm concerned.

I seem to remember his father was a guard at the prison, which overlooks the St John's Oval? BearAllen (talk) 21:46, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for reviewing the additions. I've added them to the article and fixed typos, added a few extra details and refs. This is not really my area of interest (I played cricket at school but then everyone has in the UK) - I tend to stick to editing articles that have received little attention due to the fact they normally need more work and may have contained erroneous dates and information for a long time. This cricket article is fine so I will now go off and do something else. Glad to have added the early career details. Cheers.

Sluffs (talk) 22:11, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

No worries.

Actually, having people who aren't especially interested in the subject editing sports articles would be a great help. Inevitably the people most motivated to write sports legends' biographies are ardent fans, and as a result they end up sounding like love-letters. This article - like many - needs a lot more meat, such as that you just added, and a lot of the sycophantic fluff filleting. I'll do it when I get a chance, just very busy at the moment. King Viv deserves better...BearAllen (talk) 10:36, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

Lead section

If Richards is "unequivocally regarded as the greatest One Day International (ODI) batsman of all time" you need sources which state that most people hold this view.

Eg

"Sir Donald Bradman (pictured), regarded as the greatest ever player"[6]

Welcome suggestions for different wording. Jevansen (talk) 08:31, 16 November 2013 (UTC)

There's no clash, as Bradman never played an ODI. But the claim's tosh anyway. Thanks, User:Jevansen. --Dweller (talk) 17:00, 10 February 2015 (UTC)

Useful sources

Collate here:

--Dweller (talk) 16:58, 10 February 2015 (UTC)

  • Richards, Viv; Foot, David (1982). Viv Richards (autobiography). Star. ISBN 0352312084. (Not too useful for everyone, and not to be relied upon too heavily as an autobiography, but I have a copy, and it could be useful for titbits.) Harrias talk 17:05, 10 February 2015 (UTC)
  • McDonald, Trevor (1984). Viv Richards: The Authorised Biography. Sphere. ISBN 0722157274. (Again, not useful to anyone else...) Harrias talk 17:18, 10 February 2015 (UTC)
  • [8] --Dweller (talk) 16:28, 8 March 2015 (UTC)

Article structure

The current structure (International/County cricket) is awkward. I'd like to switch it to a chronological approach, that'll take the reader through his peaks and troughs in all formats. Support? --Dweller (talk) 11:08, 25 February 2015 (UTC)

Definitely support, a chronological order makes far more sense IMO. Harrias talk 12:23, 25 February 2015 (UTC)
Ta. Anyone else? I'd really like to get cracking. --Dweller (talk) 11:38, 26 February 2015 (UTC)
Yes, indeed. A sensible change. Johnlp (talk) 11:55, 26 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks. Does anyone think it inappropriate if I go ahead from tomorrow, if no-one objects in the meantime? --Dweller (talk) 15:46, 26 February 2015 (UTC)

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