An absolute legend on the cricket field, he represented a nation in the FIFA World Cup.
A few days ago, we covered the tale of Spanish footballer Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono, who won the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. In the semi-final, her only goal secured Spain’s place in the final. Salma is now a full-time football player, but once upon a time, she juggled between football and athletics as a sprinter. She did not just juggle but also excelled equally as a sprinter.
In the world, only a handful of such players juggled between two sports. Today, we have the story of one of the finest cricketers who also played. The player is the legendary ferocious West Indies batsman, Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards.
When we started researching Richards’ football exploits, not much was discovered on the internet, and information was limited. However, only a tiny paragraph about Richards playing football has been acknowledged by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC article also says that Richards once had a trial with Bath City Football Club, an English club currently participating in the National League South, England’s sixth-tier football league. The club is affiliated with the Somerset FA.
The ICC article further adds that Richards also had a contract with Minehead Association FC. Affiliated to the Somerset Country FA, the club plays in the Somerset Country League Division One.
Out of 21 occasions, Viv remained not out in five innings. Given the legend’s stature, he was never bowled out for a duck.
Viv was also into bowling as a right-arm off-break bowler who bowled 83 overs in the World Cups, giving away 345 runs with an economy rate of 4.16. He picked up ten wickets, and his best bowling figure at a World Cup was 3/41. Out of 83 overs, he only had two maidens.
As a fielder, Richards picked up nine catches in the World Cup, with a maximum of two in a single edition. Regarding captaincy at the World Cup, Richards managed six games, winning three and losing the other three.
138 against England in 1979.
119 against India in 1983.
95 against Australia in 1983.
80 against Pakistan in 1983.
181 against Sri Lanka in 1987.
Richards was one of the finest to grace the World Cup, but unfortunately, the once-dominant West Indies team is not a part of this year’s World Cup after a humiliating defeat at the hands of Scotland.
