Sportskeeda's All-Time Test XI: From the realms of immortality

#5 – Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)

Richards had the attitude of someone who owned the entire arena

At a time when bowlers were accustomed to intimidating batsmen, the sight of a gum-chewing Viv Richards sauntering into the middle sent shivers down the spines of even the nastiest of pacers. Brutal and breathtaking in the same measure, the ‘Calypso King’ left an indelible mark on anyone who had seen him in action with his daredevilry on seemingly difficult situations.

Never afraid to resort to extravagant shots to put bowlers off their marks, the swashbuckling West Indies icon had an air of showmanship around him. Reiterating that he was capable of making a mockery of well-laid plans, Richards scored the then fastest Test century aside from tallying the most runs in a calendar year until it was finally eclipsed in 2006.

A supremely confident cricketer, his calculated stroke-play offered an insight into the captivating Caribbean culture.

Did You Know – Richards has been hailed as the only sportsman to participate in both the cricket and football World Cups. He had turned out for Antigua and Barbuda during the qualifying stages of the 1974 FIFA World Cup. However, his name does not feature in the recorded lineups even as they failed to qualify for the main tournament.

Statistics: 8540 runs from 121 matches at an average of 50.23 with 24 centuries and 45 fifties.