viv richards

Viv Richards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Vivian Richards And The Games People Play

What he said (via Times Of India):

“The WICB have been very naughty.”

Sir Vivian Richards bats for Chris Gayle.

The dashing Jamaican opener has been kept out of the West Indian side for criticising Dr. Ernest Hilaire and his colleagues for their high-handedness and arrogance.

Richards squarely laid the blame—for the current state of Caribbean cricket—at the doorstep of  the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) .

Richards said:

"There have been some good signs coming out of the team of late, but really, we need to improve more. We are in a transitional stage."

Richards believes that Chris Gayle deserves to be in the Test side.

The original master blaster added:

We have a board that is totally dictatorial and they won’t budge on their thoughts with Chris. The WICB had also asked for a commission to undertake a wide look at the governance of cricket in the West Indies. Now some findings have come back to them and the WICB were not too happy in its findings.

Chris Gayle has a case and the board should find a resolution in the matter ASAP as it is really sad how they have treated him.

The board has not released the findings of the commission and haven’t been upfront with everyone. They have put up a smoke screen and they have been far too dictatorial and someone has to take them on and Chris Gayle is doing that. I wish him luck and I am totally supporting Chris and we need to take these guys on … The WICB have been very naughty.

What he really meant:

“The WICB are acting like spoilt children—wielding the rod.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Yay! The freshly minted West Indian cricketing anthem—Games People Play.”

Alec Stewart: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"What a joke team. No Viv Richards, Gary Sobers, Malcolm Marshall to name but three."

Alec Stewart cannot but laugh at the notion of an ICC Greatest Team that omits Gary Sobers, Malcolm Marshall and Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards. The team was chosen via online polling.

What he really meant:

“Man, if I were to choose an all-greats team second to this, my team would triumph.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Stuff it, guys.”

Kirk Edwards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I never saw Viv leave a ball because I only saw highlights.”

Kirk Edwards is a debutant with panache—with bat and microphone. Viv Richards was his childhood hero whose batting he saw only in highlights. Edwards had to learn to leave the ball in the traditional manner—through coaching.

What he really meant:

“Viv Richards never left a ball go by, I swear!”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Viv Richards made bowling look easy.”

John McEnroe: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Viv Richards was the Rod Laver of cricket.”

John McEnroe shows that he’s not just a tennis buff. Vivian Richards is the cricketing version of Rod Laver, according to the legend.

What he really meant:

“Yeah, I know cricket and I know Viv Richards and, sure as hell, do Rod Laver too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Rod Laver is the Viv Richards of tennis.”