Birthday special: Barry Richards – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Former South Africa Cricketer Barry made his debut in January 1970 vs Australia in Cape Town. Touted as one of the most gifted players ever, Richards could only play four Tests and scored 508 runs at an average of 72.57 and scored two hundreds and two fifties in his career. However, due to South Africa’s ban from international cricket owing to apartheid, Richards couldn’t play for his nation during his prime and his international career came to a premature end:
3) 65 vs Australia, Johannesburg, 3rd Test, February 1970
After captain Ali Bacher won the toss and elected to bat first in the Johannesburg Test in 1970, he hoped for a good start with the bat and Richards provided his captain what he asked for. He played a brilliant knock of 65 (74) and got involved in a 56-run stand for the first wicket with Trevor Goddard. Courtesy of his knock, South Africa posted a total of 279 in the first innings and went on to win the match by 307 runs.
2) 126 vs Australia, Gqeberha, 4th Test, March 1970
Playing a sublime knock of 81 runs in the first innings in Gqeberha game in 1970 didn’t satiate Richards’ hunger as he occupied the crease for another magnificent knock in the second innings. The opening batter scored 126 (212) with the help of 16 fours and three sixes and helped his side post 470/8d in the second innings. South Africa went on to win the match by 323 runs.
1) 140 vs Australia, Durban, 2nd Test, February 1970
After having scores of (32 and 29) against his name on his debut, Barry Richards was determined to make amends in his second meet. He went on to play a stupendous knock as he brought up his first hundred in just his second Test. Richards scored 140 (164) with the help of 20 fours and a six in his innings. His innings helped South Africa post a humongous total of 622/9d in the first innings as they won the game by an innings and 129 runs.
