With a combined acreage of only 170.9
square miles the tiny twin islands states
of Antigua & Barbuda, has nevertheless
produced four of the greatest Test cricketers to
have ever played for the West Indies, each of
who were also among the very best the world has
ever seen! Andy Roberts, Viv Richards, Richie
Richardson and Curtly Ambrose are the names
of those four cricketing greats each of whom
were subsequently knighted by the Antigua
government in recognition of their respective
outstanding accomplishments in Tests for the
West Indies.
On this coming May 10, 2024, cricket fans and
enthusiasts within the sprawling Greater Toronto
Area will have a unique opportunity to be in
the company of all four of these esteemed
gentlemen and cricketing legends. As part of
its promotional build-up to the island’s hosting
of ICC 2024 T20 World Cup Matches this coming
June, Antigua & Barbuda Tourism – Canada will
be celebrating the nation’s Cricketing Legends
at A Night With The Knights, to be held on Friday,
May 10 at Brampton’s Galaxy Convention Centre
(200 Advance Road) commencing at 6:00 pm
A Night WIth The Knights will feature Sir Andy
Roberts, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Richie Richardson as
its honoued guests. With entertainment provided
by Spirited Band, where Sir Curtly Ambrose and Sir
Richie Richards play guitar, and by other Antigua
and Barbuda acts, this is a fun-filled event for the
whole family.
General Admission for the evening will range
from $25-$50 with food and soft drinks included
in ticket prices, and with alcoholic beverages
available for purchase. VIP Admission tickets
which includes priority access, an exclusive
lounge area, meet and greet time with the
Cricket Knights and receipt of a complimentary
signed miniature cricket bats are also available.
Other attractive door prizes will be also be raffled.
Dress code for the evening is smart casual.
As previously mentioned Andy Roberts, Viv Richards,
Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose were
each eventually respectively knighted for their
outstanding achievements while representing
the West Indies in Test matches played both in
the Caribbean and other parts of the world. Truth
be told they should each have been crowned
kings instead of mere knights, had such a more
elevated and fully deserving honour been available.
Such was their demonstrated greatness as four of the
finest cricketers the world has ever been privileged to
witness.
Born January 29, 1951 in Urlings Village Antigua, Anderson
Montgomery Everton Roberts made his West Indies Test
debut on March 6, 1974 against England at Barbados’
Kensington Oval. Becoming in the process, the very first
Antiguan to ever represent the West Indies in Tests.
By the time Roberts finished his illustrious career almost
ten years later, with his last Test having been played on
December 24, 1983 in Chennai against India, he had
captured 202 wickets at the miserly average of 25.61,
including two seven-wicket hauls! His best-ever figures of
7/54 were recorded against Australia in the Perth second
Test of the 1974-75 Series, the only one of the six Tests
played that the West Indies managed to win, ending as
they did as the receivers of a 5-1 Australian thrashing.
Roberts also played 56 ODIs for the West Indies capturing
87 wickets at an average of 20.35. Roberts is internationally
regarded as the Godfather of the legendary pace
quartet of himself that was comprised of himself, Michael
Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and subsequently
Malcol Marshall that terrorized opposition batsmen across
the globe and who were the backbone of West Indies
unprecedented 15year record of being undefeated in
Tests. Post-retirement he has been involved at numerous administrative levels
of West Indies cricket!
Mere months after Andy Roberts had initially smashed
open the previously vault-like closed doors of West Indies
Test selection for ‘small-island” cricketers, by becoming
the first ever Antiguan to play at cricket’s highest level,
Viv Richards became the second. Born March 7, 1952 in
St John’s Antigua, Vivian Isaac Richards made his West
Indies Test debut on November 22, 1974 in Benglaru India.
Seventeen years later on August 8, 1991 Richards played
his very last Test match for the West Indies, having
established himself in the intervening period as arguably
one of the greatest batsmen the West Indies has ever
produced. Many would today argue most fervently that
he was actually the greatest.
Known as the Master Blaster for his awesomely powerful
batting, Viv Richards scored 8540 runs at an average of
50.23 in the 121 Tests he played for the West Indies. His
runs included 24 centuries and 45 half centuries with a
highest score of 291 made against England at the Oval
during the 1976 Series. He also holds the unique record of
being the only West Indies captain to have never lost a
Test during his tenure.
Richards also played 187 ODI matches for the West Indies,
scoring 6721 rus at an average of 47.00. He will alwayes
be remembered for scoring a century at Lords during the
1979 World Cup final against England. An innings which
led West Indies to their second successive triumph as
World Cup champions, following their victory in the 1975
final the tournament’s inaugural championship.
As a prodigy of the great Sir Viv, Richard Benjamin
Richardson, known affectionately across the globe as
“Richie,” was born on January 12, 1962 in Antigua’s Five
Islands Village. Genteel, gentle, courteous and modest
by comparison to the more aggressive, flamboyant
Richards, Richie Richardson eventually succeeded his
mentor as captain of the West Indies. A post he
held from 1991 – 1995, during which he led the
West Indies in 24 Tests.
As the 180th player to represent the West Indies
in Tests, Richie Richardson made his debut on
November 24 1983 against India. He played his
final Test some twelve years later, in August 1995
against England.
5949 runs scored at an average of 44.39 with
16 centuries, 27 half-centuries and a personal
best of 194 included. Those were Richardson’s
enviable Test statistics. Add to those the 6248
runs scored at an average of 33.41 in the 224 ODI
matches he also played for the West Indies.
Having served as a West Indies Test Team
Manager post retirement Sir Richie Richardson
has since become one of the International
Cricket Conference’s (ICC) most admired and
widely respected Match Referees. He was initially
appointed to the ICC’s Elite Panel of Match
Referees on September 21, 2015, a position he
still currently holds.
Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose, 6′ 8″ tall and as
elevated in physical stature as his lenghty name
suggests, also rose to the dizzying heights of
international stardom as one of the greatest fast
bowlers the West Indies has ever produced. Born
21 September 1963, in Swetes Antigua, Ambrose
made his West Indies Test debut on April 2 1988
against the touring Pakistanis at Guyana’s Bourda
sward.
By the time Ambrose’s West Indies Test career
had ended, some twelve years later on August
31, 2000 against England at the Oval, he had
captured 405 wickets at the miserly average
of 20.99. Against Australia at Perth in 1993 he
bowled one of the greatest fast bowling spells of
all time, capturing seven Aussie wickets for just a
single run. A mere few months later he was once
again at his most awesomely destructive best,
capturing 6/24 at Trinidad’s Port-of-Spain Oval to
help dismiss England for a paltry 45 all out.
Ambrose’s West Indies ODI career also spanned
twelve years, during which he captured 225
wickets at an average of 24.12,
Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie Richardson and Sir
Curtly Ambroe each received their Antiguan
Government knighthoods on February 28, 2014.
Sir Vivian Richards had been knighted several
years before in 1999.
Knighthoods by title, cricketing kings by virtue
of their respective exploits. Four esteemed sons
of Antigua and Barbuda soil visiting Toronto
for a May 10 Night With The Knights. A Must Do
evening for every self-respecting Toronto-based
cricket enthusiast!
Mere months after Andy Roberts had initially smashed
open the previously vault-like closed doors of West Indies
Test selection for ‘small-island” cricketers, by becoming
the first ever Antiguan to play at cricket’s highest level,
Viv Richards became the second. Born March 7, 1952 in
St John’s Antigua, Vivian Isaac Richards made his West
Indies Test debut on November 22, 1974 in Benglaru India.
