Video: Happy Birthday Big Viv, the original – and, for many, only – Master Blaster
Bowlers would be intimidated just at the sight of Viv Richards sauntering to the crease, chewing gum nonchalantly.
"Swag" may be the keyword of this generation, but one man epitomised the term far before any of them were ever born. When Sir Vivian Alexander Richards sauntered to the crease, nonchalantly chewing his gum, bowlers cowered. He looked genial but only till the ball reached his bat. After that, there was no telling which part of the ground Richards would deposit it in.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Big Viv terrorised the opposition in every part of the cricket world. Such was his impact on cricket that, after he left its shores, almost every attacking batsman in the world had to bear comparison with the cricketing giant from Antigua.
It is difficult to pick any one of Richards' innings to highlight, but his 138 not out in the 1979 World Cup final was stunning even by his high standards. In an important game, Richards played the kind of devastating knock that completely changed the momentum of the game. From 55/3 at one stage, West Indies went on to an imposing 286 (back then that was huge) in their 60 overs, headlined by a gem from Richards (video above)
Five years later, England would be on the receiving end of Richards's fury yet again in a knock that was widely proclaimed as the best-ever in One Day International cricket. In a majestic display of power and big-hitting, Richards took West Indies out of the depths of 102/7 to reach 272 in their 55 overs. His own innings of 189 not out, at that time the highest ever score in ODI cricket, came from just 170 balls and included 21 fours and five massive sixes.
One aspect of Richards's cricket that often went unnoticed was his handy off-spin and tigerish fielding. In an 1989 ODI against India at Sharjah, Richards received the Man of the Match award – not for his batting, but for picking up 2/44 in his ten overs and effecting two sharp run-outs.