By Ray Ford
OF LEADERS Field-Marshal Montgomery once said “they have infectious
optimism a determination to persevere in the face of difficulties and the
composure to radiate confidence when they themselves are not too
certain of the outcome!” One would think that Montgomery had known Clive
Lloyd personally but what about Viv Richards?
Even prior to the press release back in February 1985 which announced that he
would be leading the West Indies in their home series against New Zealand, an air
of speculation clouded the Caribbean cricketing fraternity. Was Richards worthy of
Lloyd’s office?
An early omen came last year when the respected regional journalist “Reds” Perreira
appealed to all West Indians to abandon insularity and support Lloyd’s successor
– whoever that might be. Then there was the much-celebrated dressing-room
incident in Antigua in which A Guyanese reporter suggested that “no small island
player should succeed Clive Lloyd. In addition to that while, the West Indies were
on tour to Australia in January 1985, the Jamaican columnist Jimmy Carnege quietly
politicked in one of his Sunday articles that Michael Holding and not Vivian Richards
was more deserving of the Clive Lloyd mantle.
Then at last somebody was audacious enough to address the situation head-on.
Tony Becca, another Jamaican journalist, in March 1985 finally made these observations:
“fans think he is arrogant, the establishment finds his discipline wanting, some players fear
he won’t be Lloyd’s avatar and the WICB is uncomfortable with his apparent Rastafarian
beliefs.”
Sullied by such criticism, Richards might well be on his way up to greatness. Remember Frank
Worrell? He too was branded arrogant, and what about Ian Chappell? He too was labelled
undisciplined. Yet both were among the best at the task.
What does Richards himself make of all this? Seemingly piqued by his lengthy apprenticeship
in the Trevor McDonald biography he intones that they might be searching for a blue-eyed blond boy whose hair shakes in place – a suspicion that was not entirely ludicrous. The calendar has moved along but some sentiments will never be altogether abandoned. West Indian communities though producing some of the sharpest minds are yet to relinquish totally the colonial mentality. If you are ever privileged to talk with some of those who played first-class cricket in the 40s and 50s you will invariably hear who had to carry whose gear on tour or whose career was blighted simply because his colour was wrong. All this aside, Richards is the most prepared to lead the West Indies at this time.
On the field he is tactically sound,. At Test level; he had deputized a few times before his first full series, though in the second Test against Australia staged in Port-of-Spain in 1984 his stewardship came under fire. In the
odi-day matches he seems more at ease and can match withs with the Chappells and the Brearleys. Like it or not these “pyjama parties” are contributing more and more to the coffers and Richards is not about to
alter the financial flow.
To say he is arrogant is picayune. Of course, he has his style – the flamboyance, the cheek and the rest but so did Sobers and Lillee and to a lessor extent so do Kapil and Zaheer. Wasn’t that the same arrogance we lauded at the onset of his run ramage back on the 1974-75 Australian tour? The fable goes that having been beaten for pace by consecutive Jeff Thompson deliveries, his mid-wicket conference with Lawrence Rowe went: “ Yagga (Rowe’s nickname) it’s me or him!” Richards ever ready to challenge the best!
He is no Clive Lloyd and we shouldn’t expect him to be. He has to develop his own approach and the players will have to accommodate it. One good thing is that his personality is understood by the team’s current nucleus which has been fused since the early 1970s. In the heat of competition, he can be acerbic and volatile, yet he is unfailingly unbiased I appraising his fellow players and is always sociable to his folk.
In the McDonald biography, he lavishly praises Joel Garner but in one World Series encounter he wasn’t quite as generous. Joel was having a torrid time backing up to a rejuvenated Len Pascoe. His defence was being breached and understandably Garner was more concerned with self-preservation than contributing to the score sheet. After the encounter Richards in his argot commented “Doc imagine a big man like you fraid a de man. Jus tek one step down de wicket and hoist him nuh!” No malice, just the drive in Richards. Every man must contribute.
In sports, cricket not excluded, intimidation plays a part and every team has its warheads. As Rod Marsh did his somersaults and Lillee belched his expletives, Greg Chappell would stand at slip, hands folded, oblivious to the carrying-on. The behaviour is unsettling to the opposing batsmen but that’s all part of the ploy. Richards and
Dujon at ties riled the strikers, Of course, this role play may no longer fit Richards and he may well consider delegating it.
“But what do they know of cricket who only cricket knows?” the thought-provoking C.L.R. James asked. West Indies captaincy today doesn’t end on the field. The current socio-political climate dictates that a leader is culturally aware and astute. In this respect, Richards might be unparalleled. His feelings about South Africa excursions are cautious but firm. Yet like Lloyd and unlike some, he diplomatically avoids hurling vitriolic criticisms at some of his former team-mates who are not as strong.
On the Caribbean front, Richards has by example dissuaded insularity, In the early days of World Series cricket Mikey Holding would amusingly tell of Richards’ liking for the Jamaican all-rounder Richard Austin. In years to follow the Barbadian wicket-keeper David Murray was to be in his company more often than not. On cricket duty in Jamaica Viv is weighed with his favourite reggae albums. Lately, he has been spurned in the press for wearing his red, yellow and green sweatband but Richards explains that he is a man of Africa and the colours mean a lot to him. It has to be refreshing to black people all over the world to see the captain of a renowned
team unappeasingly proud of his culture.
Psychologists confirm that in any occupation humour plays no small part in relieving stress and as Peter Roebuck notes in his book Slices of Cricket, Richards is hardly short of that sense. A typical work day for him might be similar to that Tuesday evening at Sabina Park against Kapil Dev’s Indians.
It’s Lloyd’s 50th time captaining the West Indies. Richards is hardly at ease. On this last day of the rain-plagued match, he is suffering from a painful shoulder. Furthermore, his forehead is a little puffed having bumped it a few days before while getting off the team bus.
In spite of all this, he is jocular and determined to do well. In his last Test outing here against England. He disappointed as moments before lunch that Saturday he injudiciously flicked at Graham Dilley and caught down the leg side for 15, Just before that he had promised so much by casually on-driving John Emburey well into the
George Headley Stand. This time will be different.
After getting his physiotherapy Richards takes the seat left beside Clive Lloyd at the boundary cordon. Nobody dares to enquire how he feels, yet deep inside everybody wants to know. Greenidge and Haynes in
helmets, looking like twins, make heavy weather against Kapil and Sandhu yet they must hurry if their side is to get the 172 required to win in the allocated half an hour plus 20 overs. As Dev walks back to his mark the bowler, as usual, is fidgeting tugging at this shirt. Richards breaks the silence by wondering aloud “Him have ants in dem
or what?” In his ramblings, he does a Bunny Wailer impersonation forcing a bemused Clive Lloyd to query “Who de hell dis Bunny Wailer be?”
Venkat relieves Sandhu and Greenidge in particular is cautious of the guile. Garner yawns and advises his emissary “de cricket dead, wake me up when Smokey start bat!” The chatter stops as Haynes is out. Richards
snatches some gum from Jeff Dujon, meticulously sets his cap then swaggers away accompanied by tumultuous applause. His classic 61 dashes India’s hopes and sets the stage for Dujon to wrist Amarnath’s full toss high into the Members Pavilion. Lloyd is jubilant.
Back at the Pegasus Hotel after the match, Richards is on his back as usual graciously receiving his well-wishers. Suddenly the captain barges in. In a half-serious mood “Vivian Richards” he shouts ‘Why weren’t you at the reception?’ “Skip,” Richards responds. “You is a sadist or what?” Imagine a have a cocoa head and half a hand and
you talking reception?” Lloyd can only smile. He knows he’s being taken. ‘Anyway,’ Clive continues, ‘Your excuse is better than Haynes’. The boy claims he couldn’t find a shirt!’
Quite frankly it\s hard to see where the captaincy has changed, Richards has not only been in Lloyd’s crucible for the last 10 years, he has also been a student of life. One doubts if he will abandon ‘walking with kings’ while maintaining the common touch.
No cause for alarm., West Indies leadership is in safe hands.