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Jack Richards, the Surrey wicket-keeper batsman, burst on the scene with
Mike Gatting's Ashes winning team in 1986-87, but left county cricket
for good after quitting Surrey in 1988. Richards had been in the England
selectors minds for several years. He toured India in 1981-82 as
understudy to Bob Taylor, playing in ODIs in Ahmedabad and Jullundur and
in an ODI against Sri Lanka on the SSC Ground at Colombo immediately
before Sri Lanka's inaugural Test. He had been expected to be the
reserve keeper in Australia in 1986-87, too, but his superior batting to
Bruce French got him a Test berth and he scored 133 in the second Test
at Perth.
He also made 46 and 38 in the fifth Test at Sydney. He played
an integral part in England's victory in the World Championship of
Cricket ODIs which opened the floodlights in Perth. His scores included
50 against the West Indies, adding 60 with Allan Lamb in what turned out
to be a 19 run victory. In the final against Pakistan he was at the
crease when England achieved a five wicket victory. French kept against
Pakistan in 1987 until Richards was brought in for his batting at
Headingley, but he scored just 6 and 2. Against West Indies in 1988 he
was called up for the last two Tests but was replaced by Jack Russell
against Sri Lanka. Richards played in the Australian Bicentennial ODI in
Melbourne in 1987-88 and also played ODIs against Australia, India and
Pakistan in a tournament in Sharjah. (Bob Harragan)
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