Barry Richards (South Africa)
 | Barry played in just four tests but garnered fans everywhere for his incredible batting. He participated in World Series Cricket in the 1970’s and had first-class stints in South Africa, England and Australia. Barry’s numerous batting titles and records include scoring 1,000 runs in a season 15 times. He is now a cricket commentator. |
Interview with Barry Richards (July 31st, 2006)
Tyler Foundation (TF): First of all Barry, we’re looking forward to seeing you in September!! Have you been to Japan before?
Barry Richards (BR): Funnily enough, I have! In 1970, which… (Laughs) a long, long time ago! I went through Japan, frankly because I just wanted to have a look, had the opportunity to do it through my travel agent and I went there on my way to England.
TF: And what are your impressions and expectations for this visit?
BR: Well, I imagine a very changed country in 37 years! I mean it’s somewhere that holds a fascination for a lot of people. And the fact that Japan was, in many ways, the forerunner of the East being the powerhouse that it is – and probably still is. In the early days, I can remember getting toys that were made in Japan – that was a big ‘no no’. And now ‘Made in Japan’ is a big endorsement.
TF: Yes, I think you’ll be pretty impressed with what’s been built over here. You’re obviously doing a lot of commentary now. What have you been doing since you retired from cricket?
BR: Well, since I retired I went into cricket administration. I was Director of Cricket in Natal for a couple of years. Then I was headhunted and went to South Australia and moved my family to Australia in 1988 as state coach and we got into the Shield Final. I was subsequently offered the job of Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Cricket and I was there for 9 years, that was the late 1990s. Then commentary.
TF: Do you enjoy commentary?
BR: Yeah – it keeps you involved in the game and I think that it’s a nice way to keep involved in the game. You know, I didn’t fancy the umpiring or the refereeing and that kind of stuff. So, this was the best way for me.
TF: Who do you enjoy commentating with?
BR: Ah, I think generally you have a rapport with all the commentators because you have a common interest because they all played and you have respect for everybody. There’s probably a few you’d rather not but in the main, everybody is terrific to commentate with.
TF: Barry thinking back on your career, because of South Africa’s isolation, you played just those four official tests. But that was in many ways the pinnacle of South African cricket. Can you just talk about that series?
BR: Ja, I mean for us, Simpson’s side had come four years previously… you know, they didn’t play nearly as many tests in those days as they do now. Now, it seems to be endless, a circus, roundabout. In those days, everyone looked forward to it and of course so did I and I was very disappointed I never played the series before. And there were a few issues there… You know, averaging 80 against the touring team and not getting a test match was obviously very disappointing because of the time frame you had to wait for the next opportunity. But when it did come around, I really enjoyed it and played pretty well. And as you say, it was then very disappointing that as you start your test cricket, it was already at an end. And you subsequently play with a lot of fellows who have played fifty, seventy five, maybe even one hundred test matches… and you know you are as good as them but there’s nothing to show for it.
TF: What moment in that series was key for you?
BR: I think getting one hundred at your home ground. And that was in the first over after lunch. That would probably be the pinnacle of the series for me because (a) it was in Durban and (b) the ground was absolutely choca block. They were hanging off the rafters!! And it was done in style one over after lunch. Obviously winning the series was fantastic as well.
TF: You also played for Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Natal, South Australia, Transvaal. And World Series Cricket. Can you call out some memorable moments?
BR: I think that one when we played in what they called the World Series Super Final against Australia with Dennis Lillee and those sort of people playing in the opposition. And Kerry Packer was very strong on making it competitive so it was always ‘winner takes all’. And we had to get about 230 in the last innings on a wearing wicket. It wasn’t going to be easy. And we ended up doing it with about 6 down and I think the little partnership between myself and Mike Proctor, which was about 80 or 90… to almost get there. I think Proccie got out with about 15 or 20 runs to go. But that got us over the line. So that was memorable, getting one hundred there and winning the game. And it was obviously very competitive… To this day, I cannot understand why the ICC won’t award World Series Cricket the status of First Class cricket, maybe even Test Cricket. And then you see Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, these days, given test status and World Series Cricket was not.
TF: Good point. Overall, World Series Cricket was good for the game?
BR: Oh undoubtedly. There were so many positives. Night cricket came out of that. The white ball came out of that. There were a whole lot of rule changes. Colored gear. All those issues were things that came out of World Series Cricket.
TF: Barry, you faced thousands of bowlers in your time. Who were the best? Who did you least like facing?
BR: Ah, I mean… I suppose generally left arm over, swinging it in… that always used to trouble me a little bit. I mean it all depends on the situation. If you’ve got a fast wicket, you go for the likes of Lillee or Proctor. If you’ve got a turning track, you might go for an Underwood or Bishen Bedi. A lot depends on the conditions. That was an era, in the late 70s when you had a plethora of fast bowlers who were absolutely amazing. Sylvester Clarke only played 10 test matches for the West Indies but he’d be their best bowler by a million miles in today’s cricket.
TF: You also batted with a lot of people. Who do you rate as among the greatest you played with?
BR: I mean, I think two or three stand out. Viv Richards was one of the most dominating players of that era ... he came probably just after me. Graeme Pollock, of course. I played a lot of cricket with him. And he was such a talent… it was really disappointing that he wasn’t on the world stage a lot more. And then chaps like Greg Chappell, Graham Gooch. There were a lot of guys around in that era who were really good cricketers.
TF: You’re also well-acquainted with current players through your work as a commentator. Who would you rate among current players?
BR: Well, there’s obviously quite a few… I mean obviously Shane Warne comes out first up as enormously talented… a genius and one of the best spin bowlers that’s ever lived. So, it’s hard to go past him in the bowling department although Glenn McGrath in the fast bowling department is also fantastic. Among the all rounders, you get Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, people like that. On the batting side, Tendulkar and Lara. And Ricky Ponting. Those three seem to stand out as batsmen.
TF: Who are some of the best captains you played with?
BR: Well, I think my first international was with Ali Bacher and I had respect for him. Ian Chappell was a good tactician and a good skipper. Then in recent years I’ve been very impressed with Stephen Fleming – he’s a guy who reads the game pretty well.
TF: From Japan, you’re going on to India. What are you going to do there?
BR: It’s the Champion’s Trophy and all ten test nations are involved in a one day series which runs over a month.
TF: Joining us in Japan will be Mike Gatting and Devon Malcolm.
BR: Good, I didn’t play with Gatt until after my career – he was jut coming on the scene when I stopped playing county cricket, when I was 31 or 32. I wasn’t around when he was in his prime. And Devon Malcolm, well I obviously saw him bowl. He got nine wickets against South Africa once!! Obviously very quick but not always quite sure where it was going!!
TF: And Ricey is coming over – you played a lot of cricket with him.
BR: I’ve played with Clive a long long time and another unfortunate guy in that he did not play much test cricket. He was a fantastic cricketer.
TF: Barry, thanks for your time and see you in Japan in a few weeks.
BR: Thanks