Latest news with #VivRichards
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
The tale of two Tests: Why it's time for a two-tier system in cricket
The Proteas, captained by Temba Bavuma, recently won the World Test Championship at Lord's after beating Australia in the final. Photo: AFP Image: AFP COMMENT In the one corner, there was Lord's. Splendid in all its regality. A full house on the fifth day enjoying a spectacle rivalled only by events at the very same ground just a few weeks earlier, when the Proteas lifted the Test mace in spectacular fashion. All three results were still possible, with both England and India teetering on the edge. The tension was palpable — sledging, swearing, and high-stakes cricket captivating a global audience. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Over 7 500km away, in far-off Jamaica, two other teams were slogging through the motions at a near-deserted Sabina Park. Not too long ago, the Frank Worrell Trophy — contested by the West Indies and Australia — was one of the most sought-after titles in world cricket. Thousands would cram into the George Headley Stand, with the picturesque Blue Mountains providing the idyllic Caribbean backdrop. But in 2025, the eminence of both the FWT — dominated by Australia for over two decades — and the West Indies themselves has dimmed alarmingly. Yet, not even the Windies' most disillusioned critic could have foreseen the looming nadir of this once-proud cricketing nation. The absolute carnage that unfolded in 14.3 overs of mayhem was painful to watch. The West Indies slumped to 11 for 6 in just 5.2 overs, before collapsing entirely for a pitiful 27 all out. Not since 1955 has a lower score been recorded in the history of Test cricket. The embarrassment was compounded by the occasion: the 50th anniversary of the West Indies' triumph in the inaugural Cricket World Cup — a tournament won by legends such as Sir Viv Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, Michael Holding, and Andy Roberts. That very generation watched, helplessly, as the current crop — masquerading as Test cricketers — capitulated. Former captain Carl Hooper echoed the anger of a region, describing himself as 'angry' and 'upset'. He went further: 'It's not as if you can see some light at the end of the tunnel.' Which brings me to my point — one echoed recently by Ravi Shastri — that Test cricket must implement a two-tier system. Test cricket simply cannot afford to carry nations like the West Indies any longer. As heartbreaking as it may be for the likes of Lloyd to witness his beloved team demoted, there is no other viable path forward. The same logic applies to Zimbabwe. The Proteas' recent demolition of their northern neighbours across two Tests did little to enhance the prestige or appeal of the longest format. Wiaan Mulder's refusal to pursue a world-record individual score — choosing instead to let a 'legend' keep the title — speaks volumes. Had his unbeaten 367 come against one of the so-called "Big Three", there's little doubt he would have pushed for history. In today's cricket landscape, where the calendar is hopelessly congested, there simply isn't room for one-sided Test series that sap the sport's energy and public interest. Recent series between evenly matched sides — South Africa v India, England v Australia, Pakistan v New Zealand — have delivered riveting cricket, packed stadiums, and huge digital engagement. That is the standard fans crave. Difficult decisions need to be made — and soon. Test cricket remains the sport's purest form, its absolute pinnacle. But to preserve it, the game must prioritise quality over sentiment. The best teams must play each other regularly, free from the drag of nostalgia and the dead weight of decayed dynasties.
Washington Post
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Cricket legends Brian Lara and Viv Richards to help beleaguered West Indies team
Only a day after West Indies endured one of its worst performances in nearly a century of playing test matches, the president of the Caribbean cricket board was looking to the past to improve the future. WICB president Kishore Shallow on Tuesday said he plans to enlist Caribbean cricket greats such as Viv Richards and Brian Lara to help a West Indian lineup that scored just 27 runs in its second innings – one run short of the all-time test record for low totals — while losing the third of three tests to Australia.
Al Arabiya
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Cricket legends Brian Lara and Viv Richards to help beleaguered West Indies team
Only a day after West Indies endured one of its worst performances in nearly a century of playing test matches, the president of the Caribbean cricket board was looking to the past to improve the future. WICB president Kishore Shallow on Tuesday said he plans to enlist Caribbean cricket greats such as Viv Richards and Brian Lara to help a West Indian lineup that scored just 27 runs in its second innings – one run short of the all-time test record for low totals – while losing the third of three tests to Australia. The batting collapse continued a pattern for the West Indian test team – it hasn't won a test series since 2022-23 when it beat Zimbabwe in the Caribbean. Since then it has drawn three and lost five series. It was swept in 3-0 over the last few weeks at home against Australia culminating in the humiliating defeat in the third test on Monday. Shallow had seen enough. 'The result hurts deeply not only because of how we lost but because of what West Indies Cricket has always represented to our people: pride, identity, and possibility,' Shallow said in a statement. 'There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us including the players who I know feel this loss just as heavily. We are in a rebuilding phase steadily investing in the next generation and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.' Indeed it was a force. By the late 1970s the Caribbean side was recognized as unofficial world champions, a title they retained throughout the 1980s thanks to batters like Richards complemented by feared bowlers like Curtly Ambrose. Now Richards, known fondly at times as Sir Viv after receiving a British knighthood for his services to cricket, will be part of the rescue package. Shallow said he had ordered an emergency meeting to review the Australia test series, particularly the final match. Some of the fast bowling produced against Australia in the series resembled the days when West Indies pacemen dominated the world of cricket, but batting deficiencies let the team down badly. 'To strengthen the discussions I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards, and Brian Lara,' Shallow said. 'They will join past greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes, and Ian Bradshaw.' Lloyd, who is 80, was a West Indies captain and leading figure of the team's overwhelming success in his era. He scored 19 centuries in his 110-test career that ended in 1984. The 73-year-old Richards scored 24 centuries in 121 test matches. Lara who retired in 2006 scored 34 centuries in 131 tests. He holds the record for the most runs scored in a test innings – 400 not out against England in 2004. It remains the only quadruple century in test cricket. It's not clear whether the support group will help in the shorter formats of ODI and Twenty20 cricket. West Indies have had 3-0 series losses this year to England in both formats. On the plus side, the Caribbean team drew an ODI series and won a T20 series in Ireland. Shallow insists he's not paying lip service to the chaos surrounding the test team which played its first test matches in England in 1928, losing the series 3-0. 'This engagement is not ceremonial,' Shallow said. 'These are men who helped define our golden eras and their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development.'
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Cricket legends Brian Lara and Viv Richards to help beleaguered West Indies team
Only a day after West Indies endured one of its worst performances in nearly a century of playing test matches, the president of the Caribbean cricket board was looking to the past to improve the future. WICB president Kishore Shallow on Tuesday said he plans to enlist Caribbean cricket greats such as Viv Richards and Brian Lara to help a West Indian lineup that scored just 27 runs in its second innings – one run short of the all-time test record for low totals — while losing the third of three tests to Australia. The batting collapse continued a pattern for the West Indian test team — it hasn't won a test series since 2022-23, when it beat Zimbabwe in the Caribbean. Since then it has drawn three and lost five series. It was swept in 3-0 over the last few weeks at home against Australia, culminating in the humiliating defeat in the third test on Monday. Shallow had seen enough. 'The result hurts deeply, not only because of how we lost, but because of what West Indies Cricket has always represented to our people: pride, identity, and possibility,' Shallow said in a statement. 'There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.' Indeed it was a force. By the late 1970s, the Caribbean side was recognized as unofficial world champions, a title they retained throughout the 1980s thanks to batters like Richards complemented by feared bowlers like Curtly Ambrose. Now, Richards, known fondly at times as Sir Viv after receiving a British knighthood for his services to cricket, will be part of the rescue package. Shallow said he had ordered an emergency meeting to review the Australia test series, 'particularly the final match.' Some of the fast bowling produced against Australia in the series resembled the days when West Indies' pacemen dominated the world of cricket, but batting deficiencies let the team down badly. 'To strengthen the discussions, I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards and Brian Lara,' Shallow said. 'They will join past greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bradshaw.' Lloyd, who is 80, was a West Indies captain and leading figure of the team's overwhelming success in his era. He scored 19 centuries in his 110-test career that ended in 1984. The 73-year-old Richards scored 24 centuries in 121 test matches. Lara, who retired in 2006, scored 34 centuries in 131 tests. He holds the record for the most runs scored in a test innings — 400 not out against England in 2004. It remains the only quadruple century in test cricket. It's not clear whether the support group will help in the shorter formats of ODI and Twenty20 cricket. West Indies have had 3-0 series losses this year to England in both formats. On the plus side, the Caribbean team drew an ODI series and won a T20 series in Ireland. Shallow insists he's not paying lip service to the chaos surrounding the test team, which played its first test matches in England in 1928, losing the series 3-0. 'This engagement is not ceremonial,' Shallow said. 'These are men who helped define our golden eras, and their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development.' ___ AP cricket:
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Windies seek legends' help after Australia debacle
West Indies will seek the advice of legendary former players Sir Viv Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara following the Test side's crushing defeat by were bowled out for just 27 - the second-lowest score in Test history, and the worst since 1955 - as they lost the third Test in Jamaica to succumb to a series clean response, Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow has called for an emergency meeting to review the series and the final match in the side's ongoing struggles with the bat, Richards, Lloyd and Lara - "our greatest batsmen ever" according to Dr Shallow - have been invited to attend the will join fellow West Indies batting greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Desmond Haynes, and former fast bowler Ian Bradshaw, who already serve on the cricket strategy and officiating committee."This engagement is not ceremonial," a statement from Dr Shallow read. "These are men who helped define our golden eras, and their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development."We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations." Shallow insisted the team is in "a rebuilding phase" and investment is being made to reignite the "spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world".He added: "Progress is rarely straightforward. It takes time, perseverance and belief, especially in our most difficult moments."There is much work to be done. But we must do it with purpose, and we must do it together." 'An accident waiting to happen' West Indies have been battling with "systemic issues" for 25 years that have left them with players "ill-equipped" to deal with the challenges they faced against Australia, according to Trinidadian commentator Fazeer Mohammed."It was almost the perfect storm," he told BBC Sport."You've got Mitchell Starc, a world class bowler, deadly in any sort of situation and even deadlier with the pink ball, coming up against players really ill-equipped to deal with those sorts of challenges."Everything was set up for something like this to happen. You never really factor in 27 all out but, in the general context of West Indies cricket, this was an accident waiting to happen."While Lara has been drafted in to help find a solution to the problems facing the current side, Mohammed believes the iconic left-hander's heroics were part of the reason a lot of the issues were masked for so long."What lies behind it is the failure to address the fundamental challenges in our domestic game - in our regional game," he added."We have many different challenges. Fundamental to those would be costs because we have many different territories - it's very costly to travel around the Caribbean, to host tournaments."There's an air of resignation about it. People will this morning be arguing amongst themselves and debating about how this can happen, who needs to be fired, who needs to be dropped, who needs to be got rid of."It's the same sort of knee-jerk reaction and then they'll shrug their shoulders and say 'well this is how it is now'."It is almost two and a half years since West Indies last won a Test series - 1-0 in Zimbabwe - and three years since their last home series victory, 2-0 against Bangladesh."I don't think all is lost by any stretch of the imagination," Mohammed said."It requires at a very fundamental level at the schools, at the under-19, under-23 levels a serious financial investment in growing the quality of the game - male and female."But also there has to be, first and foremost, that recognition that Test cricket still means something to us in the Caribbean."
