Barry Richards...saddest story ever in cricket?

[scud101]

Barry Richards played 4 tests, scored 508 runs at an average of 72.57 with a highest score of 140. He was sadly forced to play elsewhere as a result of South Africa's sporting isolation.

Who thinks his is the saddest story ever in cricket?

[Peace]

 

[twctopcat]

Along with Graeme Pollock i'd have to agree, we could well of been looking at bradman like figures at the end of their careers, had they been fulfilled.

 

[scud101]

Totally agree. Yea I forgot to mention Graeme Pollock. Sad.

 

[Adamc]

Add to that Mike Procter, as well as many others. By all reports, Procter would have been one of the game's greatest allrounders if his career was not cut short after 7 Tests (in which he took 41 wickets at 15).
Consider his first-class record (playing for Gloucestershire, Natal, Western Province, Rhodesia, Orange Free State and South Africa):
21,936 runs at 36.01, HS 254, 48x100
1417 wickets at 19.53, BBI 9/71, 70x5wi, 10x5wm

List A Limited Overs record:
6,624 runs at 27.94, HS 154*, 5x100
344 wickets at 18.76, BB 6/13, 17x4wi

Other notable achievements: scored 6 consecutive FC centuries; hit Ashley Mallet for 5 consecutive sixes, hit Dennis Breakwell for 6 consecutive sixes; hit a 57-minute century; hit a century before lunch then took a hat-trick - twice.

 

[Top_Cat]

At least they're all still alive - Archie Jackson isn't. People at the time reckoned he was as naturally talented as Bradman (or thereabouts) and didn't flinch against the short stuff like Bradman did. Unfortunately, tuberculosis got him.

Still, I read Jack Iverson's biography 'Mystery spinner' a while back - now THERE was a sad character who was immensely talented. Certainly more taleted than he thought he was.

 

[Langeveldt]

hit Dennis Breakwell for 6 consecutive sixes

LOL!! haha he is my coach!!! Cant believe that, small world...

 

[anzac]

probably the saddest stories of their type in cricket - absolute dead set super stars that never were............

the potential team that could / should have changed cricket history & the WI dominance of that era - worthy challengers to the likes of Sobers, Richards & Co...........let alone Lille, Thompson & the Chappell's..............

all of them leave for dead the abilities of S Law - recipient of the title - best player to have played only 1 test.............

8D

 

[Richard]

No question for me that Pollock and Richards, while good, were worth 4\5ths of Bradman at the absolute most.
Premature deaths (such as Jackson and Hollioake) are invariably very sad.
We've heard many "Bradman-like", "had Bradman-like talents".
The fact is, no-one has ever come close to his averages having played a reasonable amount of cricket.
I highly doubt anyone ever will.

 

[Ford_GTHO351]

all of them leave for dead the abilities of S Law - recipient of the title - best player to have played only 1 test.............

Very True