In the presence of a legend
I worked for a firm of news distributors in the 1980's. Each year the newspaper and magazine publishers used to play cricket against us. One year, they fielded a Cambridge Blue and beat us by the 100 runs which he scored. Feeling sore, cheated almost, we promised to get revenge in next year’s game.
The following year, in honour of our guest player, we were determined to put on a show. We hired the County cricket ground in Bath, and put up a small marquee, inviting the publishers to join us for a pre-match glass, to meet our star player.
Sipping bubbly with our guests, they, slightly anxiously, inquired who this player might be. We said, ‘wait and see, he’ll be here shortly’.
I was chatting to one of our guests with my back to the door, when suddenly his jaw dropped, and he spluttered ‘Good heavens, but isn’t that….it can’t be….it is, you’ve got Viv Richards on your team?’.
Indeed we had. My boss had been very involved with Somerset cricket club, in their 1980's heyday, when they had a raft of great players. He had been instrumental in getting Sir Viv Richards his first playing contract in the UK, and this was Viv’s way (I hope it is acceptable to refer to him in this familiar way) of returning the favour.
I am including the team photo from the day. I am third from the right in the back row. The squiggle across Sir Viv is his autograph.
Viv Richards was unbelievably gracious. I can barely play cricket and most of our team would have struggled to get into a good village side, but he took it all in very good part. We fielded first. Viv’s first ball was hit for 6, which clearly annoyed him. From the very next ball, the middle stump went cartwheeling away behind the flummoxed batsman.
And when he batted, he hit 39 runs in double quick time, before deliberately getting out, so as not to spoil the contest. We did win the game, but not by much, but the real pleasure and honour of the day, and the evening in the pub, was to be in the presence of one of the greatest cricketers of all time, and one of the most delightful and pleasant people you are ever likely to meet.
Martin Sandbrook
Memory added on September 23, 2014
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