13 Facts about Barry Richards: The South African Batting Maestro

Barry Richards would have been one the most top run-getters in the cricketing history had South Africa not plunged into the darkness of the apartheid. Richards played only four Test for his country before his Test career was brought to a halt. However, the loss of his international career did not mean that he was out of the limelight. He was a batsman of a tall stature and showcased his talent in the domestic circuits of England and Australia, winning over the hearts of many cricket lovers with thrilling knocks.

1.Birth:

Barry Anderson Richards Born July 21, 1945, Morningside, Union and South Africa, Durban, Natal

2. Early life:

He attended Clifton Preparatory School and the Durban High School and for many years played club cricket for DHS Old Boys’ Club.

3. Plays county cricket before making Test debut:

In 1968, aged just 22, Richards was signed by Hampshire as their overseas player. He was playing county cricket before he got the chance to represent his country.

4. Gives bold statements and backs it up:

During his signing,  Just after signing for the club, Richards made a bold statement an interview that he aspired to score 2000 runs that season. It was quite an overstatement but he lived to his big words and went on to score 2395 runs at an average of 47.90 with five hundreds.

5. Prolific for Hampshire:

Richards was a asset in the Hampshire line-up. His average in the competition was in the top 20 in each season from 1968 to 1976. In all, he scored 15,607 first-class runs for the county at an average of 50.51.

6. Forms a formidable opening partnership with Gordon Greenidge:

From 1970, Richards established one of the most successful opening partnerships for that county, along with West Indian batsman Gordon Greenidge.

7. A fast paced run maker:

Richards has scored a century before lunch nine times; five of those were made on the first day of the match.

8. A prodigal batsman:

During his time with Natal, he scored four centuries in a season four times.

9. The superstar of the Supertests:

Barry Richards played only five Supertests, but he clearly left his mark – in eight innings he scored 554 runs including two hundreds and two fifties and averaged 79.14

10. Toys with the strong Western Australia bowling attack:

In 1970–71, as an overseas player for South Australia, Richards scored 325 runs in a single day against Western Australia off an attack that included Dennis Lillee, Graham McKenzie, Tony Lock and Tony Mann. He went on to score 356, which remains his highest First-Class score. In that season he hit 1538 runs in 10 matches at an average of 109.86.

11. Proves his talent:

“Geez, I thought this bloke was able to play a bit.” Once Richards had plundered over 300 that day, Inverarity told Marsh, “I suppose he can play a bit!”

12. Life post retirement:

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 in the UK for Test Match Special, Channel 4 and Five.

13. Part of Dickie Bird’s Dream Team:

Richards was chosen by renowned umpire Dickie Bird 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.