Viv Richards - Contributed

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

OVERCOME WITH emotion and fighting back tears, Sir Vivian Richards played another great innings last Saturday, even though long in retirement.

His epic 291 at The Oval in England and his world record fastest Test hundred from 56 balls at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) were lifetime achievements done with the bat on the field.

But his heart-pouring speech on Saturday night at the hand-over ceremony for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) stadium that bears his name in his native Antigua and Barbuda was just as impressive, and perhaps better. The former West Indies captain disregarded his prepared text and spoke "from deep within", stating that "no paper or pen can do justice to this."

He then set the tone for the audience with a majestic stroke.

"It may look like the Viv Richards show but it's not," he said, praising those who helped to shape the 'individual' who stood before them.

He played carefully forward defensive in thanking his late father, Malcolm Richards, and mother, who is alive, Gretel Richards.

"I wish my old man could be here now because he always instils in me the certain powers of achieving, and I would love him to be here tonight but I know he's here," he said. "My family has always been supportive throughout my life," Sir Vivian added.

He also thanked "some individuals who I think sometimes we forget the contributions that they have made to the country and other people's lives."

Sincere gratitude

Sir Viv expressed gratitude to his eldest brother, Donald Richards, and Mervyn and David Richards.

He remembered former cricket administrator and senator, Kenrick 'Hutton' Isaac, "who, paid my subscription when I was a young boy and I couldn't afford to pay."

Sir Viv recalled restaurant owner Darcy Williams, who helped support him in his youth.

"When I was in school (he) gave me work so I could keep off the streets and so I could have pocket money."

He also thanked the late Leo Gore, former Antiguan cricket captain, "an individual who whenever I wanted sound advice was willing to be on hand to do that. He was very, very special." He remembered his primary school headmaster, the late McClin Mathias, his secondary school principal, Lloydstone Jacobs, a former ambassador, 'as special people.'

"I would like to pull them around to say to them that they are all part of what we are doing now."

Sir Viv did not forget his boyhood friends from Ovals, a suburb inside St. John's, and the residents who had endured the lost louvres while they were playing cricket in the streets.

Tolerant folks

"To all those folks who lived in Ovals at the time, who had to put up with all these young boys a little bit wayward, smashing their windows and things, thank you for being so tolerant," he added.

"There are too many times in our environment we forget the people who helped us. I am going to take the opportunity because of the help that I had as a kid from all these individuals, and the wisdom I gained from these folks (to say to) all those businesses we have in this country and all those business folks and individuals who profess that they are successful.

"There are some folks in this country who are talented people and what these folks need is just a little bit of our help.

"And if we incorporate some of these individuals, regardless of whatever the discipline, it may not have to be a particular sport, but that individual is blessed with something, try to take that individual on board.

"Sometimes we speak about nation-building and things like that. This is a proper way to start. Embrace someone. Take him on board, help and watch that individual grow.

"You can see me standing here now."

Credit tO shoul

Sir Viv also paid tribute to the role played by Ambassador David Shoul, Antigua's non-resident ambassador to China, who coordinated the inter-government working group that supervised the construction of the project.

"People were wondering if we were going to get this done - the individual, in my opinion, who was given the responsibility of, overseeing that this whole thing came to fruition, Ambassador David Shoul, must be given a big hand.

"You must give credit where credit is due," he said.

Master of ceremonies, George Goodwin Jr., the CEO of World Cup Antigua Inc, the local organising committee, remarked at the end of his speech that Sir Vivian 'has shown us that blasting from the heart is just as fearful as blasting with the bat.'

The Sir Viv Richards Stadium was built by the People's Republic of China with a grant of US$21 million and about 300 workers over the past 16 months.