Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (born 7 March 1952), commonly known as Viv Richards, is a retired Antiguan cricketer who represented the West Indies cricket team between 1974 and 1991. Usually batting at number three in a dominant West Indies side, Richards is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game. He was part of the squads that won the 1975 and 1979 Cricket World Cups, and finished as runners-up at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
| Full name | Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 March 1952 |
| Nationality | Antiguan |
| National team | West Indies (1974–1991) |
| Batting position | Usually number three |
| Test runs | 8,540 in 121 matches at an average of 50.23 |
| One Day International runs | Nearly 7,000 |
| First-class runs | More than 36,000 |
| World Series Cricket runs | 1,281 at an average of over 55 |
| Tests as captain | 50 (27 won, 8 lost) |
| Knighthood | 1999, for contributions to cricket |
| ICC Cricket Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2009 |
Richards is from Antigua and emerged as part of the great West Indies generation of the 1970s and 1980s. He made his Test debut in 1974 against India, in the same match as fellow West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge.
Richards's best years were between 1976 and 1983, during which time he averaged a remarkable 66.51 with the bat in Test cricket. In this period he established himself as the central figure of the West Indies batting line-up.
In 1984, Richards suffered from pterygium and underwent eye surgery, which affected his eyesight and reflexes. Despite this, he remained one of the best batters in the world for the remaining four years of his career, although his batting average in the second half of his career was significantly lower than in the first.
As captain of the West Indies, Richards led the side in 50 Test matches, winning 27 and losing only 8.
Richards scored 1,281 runs at an average of over 55 in World Series Cricket, a competition sometimes regarded as the highest and most difficult level of cricket ever played.
He retired as the West Indies' leading run-scorer in Test cricket, overhauling the aggregate of Sir Garfield Sobers.
Richards's career coincided with the West Indies' era of dominance in international cricket. His sustained run-scoring across Tests, One Day Internationals, first-class cricket and World Series Cricket, combined with his record as captain and recognition by Wisden and the ICC, place him among the most influential batters the sport has produced.