NEW DELHI: Former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards celebrated his 72nd birthday on Thursday. Richards, considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, played a key role in the West Indies’ victory in the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
Born in Antigua on March 7, 1952, to Malcolm and Gretel Richards, Vivian developed a passion for cricket at a young age. His brothers, Donlad and Meryn, were amateur cricketers representing Antigua.
Richards made his debut for the West Indies Test team in January 1974. In the second test of the same series in New Delhi, he scored an unbeaten 192.
From 1984 to 1991, Richards captained the West Indies in 50 matches, becoming the only West Indies captain to win every Test series.
Richards, also known by his nickname “Smokin Joe”, has a child with Indian actress Neena Gupta. Their daughter, Masaba Gupta, is a popular fashion designer.
Additionally, Richards offers commentary for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Test Match Special (TMS) program. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in honour of his services to cricket.
Agencies

Agencies