Barry Richards (cricketer)
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| Barry Richards | ||||
 South Africa |
||||
| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Barry Anderson Richards | |||
| Born | 21 July 1945 | |||
| Durban, South Africa | ||||
| Role | Batsman | |||
| Batting style | Right-handed | |||
| Bowling style | Right arm off break | |||
| International information | ||||
| Test debut (cap 234) | 22 January 1970: v Australia | |||
| Last Test | 5 March 1970: v Australia | |||
| Domestic team information | ||||
| Years | Team | |||
| 1964 – 1983 | Natal | |||
| 1968 – 1978 | Hampshire | |||
| 1970 – 1971 | South Australia | |||
| 1965 | Gloucestershire | |||
| Career statistics | ||||
| Tests | FC | LA | ||
| Matches | 4 | 339 | 233 | |
| Runs scored | 508 | 28358 | 8506 | |
| Batting average | 72.57 | 54.74 | 40.12 | |
| 100s/50s | 2/2 | 80/152 | 16/50 | |
| Top score | 140 | 356 | 155* | |
| Balls bowled | 72 | 6126 | 270 | |
| Wickets | 1 | 77 | 7 | |
| Bowling average | 26.00 | 37.48 | 26.42 | |
| 5 wickets in innings | – | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 wickets in match | – | 0 | n/a | |
| Best bowling | 1/12 | 7/63 | 2/8 | |
| Catches/stumpings | 3/– | 367/– | 106/– | |
Barry Anderson Richards (born 21 July 1945 in Durban) 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 was able to play only four Test matches before South Africa's exclusion from the international scene in 1970. Even in that brief career, against an Australian attack that was more than competitive, 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 a strong Australian side under Bill Lawry.
He 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 prospective when Yorkshire replied with 74-9 off their 40 overs. [1]
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. [2]
He is set to become the president of Hampshire, following the death of incumbent Colin Ingeleby-MacKenzie.[3]
He is also a commentator on the South African Broadcasting Corporations coverage of South African Cricket as well as Supersport's coverage of One Day International Cricket. 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.
