Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘AB is a champion in any era’
Richards on soothing his soul and on an ‘Eddie Barlow Room’
Cricket writer ZAAHIER ADAMS chats to legendary South African batsman Barry Richards WITHIN SundialintheShade it comes across on many occasions that you are a very personal man. Why then did you write the book? IT IS an interesting one. I am not the author, only the subject. I played with Andrew Murtagh for many, many years at Hampshire. He played with me and then realised he wasn’t going to make a career out of cricket and went and taught at Melville College for 30 years. When I retired at 60, my bucket list was to write a book. So, he did… he wrote about the Mr Chips of his school.
It got published and he was very excited about it and thought I’d have another go at this and he found Tom Graveney, a former England cricketer, and he wrote a book about him, and then he wanted to write a third one and said: “Barry, I’m fulfilling a bucket list, will you help me?” That’s the reason for the book and I was quite happy to help him. Did you enjoy the experience? A LOT has happened off the field since I retired and the last book I wrote. I suppose I was little angry and frustrated at not being able to play Test cricket when I was at the peak of my international career and playing really well. The fact that I couldn’t play Test cricket didn’t work well on my soul. This one is much more reflective. I’ve lost a son and that puts everything into perspective.
I’ve also had a really good time as an administrator in Queensland, which was a fantastic experience for me. For someone that probably had the talent to play the game, administration was a little bit different, and that was a nice challenge which I overcame and I’m very proud of that. Upon reflection and with time passing, would you say the soul has soothed? THERE’S a lot of testosterone flying around when you play. You are a product of a professional environment. When you get a little bit older, you become much more reflective and that soothes the soul. Things happen and cricketers tend to fall into this trap, and I was definitely one that did.
You think you are the centre of the universe and wherever you go there is publicity, and you don’t realise that the world is carrying on anyways and you’re not even a factor.
That only comes to pass when you retire and that someone else has picked up the baton and away they go. I am not being unkind because probably the best all-rounder that ever lived is Jacques Kallis, but AB de Villiers is now the new man. That’s what happens, and that’s what life is about. The wheel keeps turning and you do become a lot more reflective and a lot calmer as you get older. When you watch the Proteas, who are the world’s No 1 Test ranked side now, do you ever get the feeling that your 1970 South African team was better than the current bunch? THIS is one thing that I think statisticians fall into the trap of doing is to compare eras. Conditions are different, bats are different, opposition are different, protective gear is different, rules are different. To compare one era with another is the ultimate insult to me. I mean was Bradman better than AB? How do you compare that? It is very difficult to do that. I don’t think you should do that.
AB is a champion in any era. Graeme Pollock would have been a champion in any era. I think you should put it into 10/15 year parcels and say that guy was the best in his era and would have been a champion in any other era. I think to say this guy averaged three more than someone else, so what? Fans at Newlands, and you, enjoyed many battles against former WP captain Eddie Barlow. Your thoughts on “Bunter?” I THINK he gets a raw deal here in South Africa. There is a lot of publicity around myself, Graeme ( Pollock), Doc ( Ali Bacher) and Proccie ( Mike Procter) from that era. But I think Eddie was the one who really turned around the face of South African cricket from being a bit apologetic – a bit like Bangladesh are – in the 1950s. That’s no disrespect to the guys who played. Trevor Goddard and guys like that were very good players. But Eddie was the guy who said “we’re better than them, lets take them on”.
He brought a real positive attitude to South African
Quick singles
1. Who was the quickest bowler you have ever faced? Jeff Thompson at the Waca 2. Most exciting batsman to watch today? AB! David Warner is maverick, too, but AB’s just a genius. 3. Shot you most enjoyed playing? The cover drive 4. Who’s going to win the RWC final? The All Blacks 5. If you could change anything in cricket? Test match cricket with no protective gear. Fear of a fast bowler is an amazing thing. cricket. In the late 1960s and 1970s, I looked at him and thought: “Here’s a guy who does it his way.” He inspired guys to follow him. He wasn’t in a box. He was outside the box. I know chances are remote at this ground (Newlands) but there has to be something here to commemorate him. I know the naming of stands is a ticklish issue, but I think he has to have a room of some sorts. “The Eddie Barlow Room”.
It’s just to say, ‘hey, Eddie, you’re were a legend at this ground’, and I think a lot of people would appreciate it. I know a lot of people say there’s many who didn’t get an opportunity, but where do we draw the line? It’s over now. Guys who get into Halls of Fame outside this country must have been good players. We can’t say they got an opportunity and others didn’t. Love to see an Eddie Barlow Room, but that’s just me and I am an oldie! Can you recall your best Barlow on-field memory? THERE were so many, but the one was during one Currie Cup season when all the provincial captains came together to discuss the poor umpiring standards that season. We all agreed that if any batsmen edged the ball, he would put his bat under his arm and walk. Eddie was the only one to disagree.
He believed the umpires had a job to do and that they should do it. So, Province come up to Durban to play us at Kingsmead, and traditionally the pitch has always been a bit spicy and had something in it for the bowlers. I won the toss, though, and decided to bat, to Eddie’s surprise. Then a few overs into the match, I tickle one to the wicket-keeper down to the leg-side when I only had 10 or something.
I stood my ground and the umpire gave me not out. We went to about 200 without loss and when we walked off the field I looked towards Eddie, and he gave me the most sternlooking stare with his eyes telling me exactly how he felt about me standing my ground.
But to Eddie’s credit, and he was like that throughout his career, at the end of the day’s play he was first to crack open a beer with me. He played the game hard, but left everything out there and took nothing home with him. Is South Africa’s new pace sensation Kagiso Rabada the real deal? I HAVEN’T seen a lot of him, but now when I know that he is coming on, I will make an effort to sit down and watch him on television.
He is definitely very exciting. I just hope they allow him to breathe for he looks a very good prospect.
Anyone that can bowl at 150km/h is someone that needs to be managed carefully. I just hope the country leaves him alone for he is obviously going to carry a very heavy mantle. He is going to be the spearhead going forward, but I hope Dale (Steyn) plays for a little while longer. Even if he loses speed, I hope he can re-invent himself in terms of being a swing bowler, for Rabada is going to need a mentor alongside him during the early days of his Test career. Who was the best captain that you played under? “DOC” Bacher and Ian Chappell were great captains. Eddie was very aggressive on the field. With some captains when it gets tough out in the middle, they revert to a defensive mindset.
That wasn’t Eddie. I never played under him, but I think Mike Brearley was probably the most thoughtful captain I have encountered. There were many times when I played against him that he plotted and planned our demise.