| Richie Richardson, the prolific Antiguan number three batsman, was West
Indies captain in the early years of their decline in the mid 1990s, an
unhappy period when supporters were upset because they did not win all
the time. Richardson was noted for his wide-brimmed red sunhat, a
fashion which became a cult when he lead the team to Australia in the
early 90s and spectators turned up in sunhats with brims the width of
umbrellas. One home-made affair even covered two people. He made his
Test debut in Bombay in 1983-84, but did not make a mark until Australia
toured the Caribbean in 1984, when he made 131 not out in Bridgetown
and 154 in Antigua. He did not get a Test in England in 1984, struggling
with the moving ball and he spent a season in league cricket with
Swansea to improve his technique. He was still left out after the third
Test in England in 1988 and did not come to terms with the wickets until
1991, when he made 104 at Edgbaston and 121 at the Oval. Elsewhere he
dominated, making 138 in Brisbane in 1984-85, 102 and 160 when England
toured West Indies in 1986, 194 and 156 against India in 1989 and two
centuries and a 99 against Australia in 1990. He played in the 1987
World Cup, making 93 against England at Jaipur and 110 against Pakistan
in Karachi. He was less successful as World Cup captain in Australia in
1992, replacing Richards as Test captain for West Indies first game
against South Africa. He opened the batting with Desmond Haynes in a
1993-94 home series against England and made 93 at the Oval in the
return series in 1995. (Bob Harragan) |