Barry Richards - Interesting Facts, Trivia, And Records

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Barry Richards, who celebrates his birthday on 21st July, was one of the finest talents of the 20th century. International cricket missed out on a lot of Richards due to South Africa's ban, but he made sure the sport will remember as one of the greatest batters during his exploits as a first-class cricketer. 

Here are a few unknown interesting facts, trivia, and records about Barry Richards: 

1) In 1968, Richards was signed by Hampshire. The 22-year-old, who had not yet represented his country, confidently said in an interview that he aspired to score 2000 runs that season. The batter ended the season with 2395 runs with an average of 47.90. 

2) In the 1970-71 season with South Australia, Barry Richards scored 325 runs in a single day against Western Australia. The bowling attack consisted of Dennis Lillee, Graham McKenzie, Tony Lock, and Tony Mann. He finished that season with 1538 runs in ten matches at an average of 109.8. 

3) Richards has scored over 1000 runs in a season 15 times and has scored a century before lunch nine times.  In the World Series Cricket, he scored 554 runs in 5 matches, including a double century and a century.  

4) Barry Richards could only play four test matches for South Africa before it got banned internationally. In those four Tests, Richards scored 508 runs at an average of 72.57, helping South Africa beat Australia 4-0. 

5) Richards used to work in a South African Mutual Insurance Company as a clerk before he got a call to play for Gloucestershire's second XI. 

6) In 1966-67, Barry was almost set to make his debut for South Africa against Australia after he had hit a century in the tour game. However, during a team event in a hotel, Richards got into a scuffle with staff over not getting entry despite having the invitation. He lost his cool and kicked a nearby vase. A South African selector settled the issue but he got pushed down the order in the next tour game and wasn't picked in the playing XI against Australia. 

7) In 1966, Barry Richards got the chance to be the dressing room attendant along with his Gloucestershire teammate Mike Proctor for the West Indies team during a test match at the Oval. The West Indian dressing room consisted of Rohan Kanhai, Conrad Hunte, Seymour Nurse, Wes Hall, Lance Gibbs, and Garry Sober. 

8) The great Sir Don Bradman chose Barry Richards as the opening batter in his 20th-century team. 

9) After his playing days, Richards became a commentator and a cricket expert. 

10) In a first-class career that spanned between 1964 and 1983, Barry Richards scored 28538 runs, including 80 centuries. He played for various teams including Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Natal, South Australia, and Transvaal.