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The Cricket Monthly looks back on three great modern players and one groundsman in search of cricket's best signature move. First on the list is Kamran Abbasi's ode to The Viv Richards leg-side flick:

"Forward and across, with power and poise, from straightened knees and mighty shoulders, he felled the world's best bowlers. They grovelled before him. If anybody else tried it, it looked like a slog, uncouth and uncultured. When Vivian Richards moved forward and across and flicked to leg, it was a shot of brutal beauty, a signature move to signal the demolition."

Read the full article at The Cricket Monthly which also discusses The Dhoni stumping, The KP surge, and The dry-pitch con job.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Hitting across the line

In reply to doosra

I've seen the Maestro execute it with aplomb at Albion in 3 consecutive deliveries, all along the carpet for 4 glorious runs. After, the first stroke of genius a second fielder was place on the fence to deny the great man to no avail. A third fielder was added, you guessed it, same result. That was 33yrs ago...still etched in my memory like it was yesterday.

My earliest memory of Viv batting was the that shot off the pads through mid-wicket which I would describe more as a short jab/punch. What stood out in my mind was the amazing power with very little backlift. Saw him at Kensington and was in awe.

GUESS WHO CONTACTED ME YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS ARTICLE?????


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

In reply to Dukes

He had better come out of hiding and explain the nuances..The first person that came to mind while reading it..

In reply to Khaga

Khaga.. shut you skunt.. Viv Richards makes a world 11 on most people team...In my time, Viv was the most feared.. yes feared; batsman ever...

its not the runs but how he scored them.. Viv made his team better

now run and ask the indian bowlers of the 70s and 80s how the rate viv...

In reply to Bigzinc

Yawwnn..fcuk off..I was talking about the poster who lectured about hitting across the line..

I saw him play that shot at Sabina Park against Patrick Rambo Patterson.. It was almost surreal how he executed it!!!

Wifan is ha around these days?

In reply to Avatar

Newbies think that Viv was all brute power, those who were fortunate to see the master bat knew that he was a superb timer of the ball bar none.

I remember a young..yes young and fast Cameron Cuffy bouncing at and nearly hitting Viv in one of those Leewards Vs Windawrds derbys.

Yes..for those who dont remember Cameron Cuffy, in maroon he was an accurate medium pacer. The Young Cuffy however was quite a different Bowler. Tall, strong and athletic, many believed he would even be better than his fiery countryman, Winston Davis.

Viv was at the end of his illustrious career and Cuffy was staking his claim. He ran through the early Leewards batters that afternoon in Queens Park. Atherton was the only one putting up some resistance.

Viv came in to join him with Cuffy's tail up. Young Cuffy had his wares on display and he was clearly troubling Atherton too, who was groping and uncomfortable.

Viv came joined Atherton in a repairing effort and Cameron rudely bounced at the great man. Viv laughed, rubbing his head pretending that Cuffy had hit him. Cuffy laughed, the kinda stupid laugh that young fools give when they believe they accomplished something without a clue of what was to happen next.

What happened next was epic. Viv laid into Cuffy..there was 20 Plus in the over. Those flicks were on parade. I remember mid wicket running as though he had a chance, then stopping as the ball took even more height after crossing the boundary.

When Viv left..he was 73..caught somewhere on a boundary. Atherthon, who was on 20 plus when Viv came in, was still on 20 plus. Cuffy just sat on his arse a broken, bewildered heap of muscle.

I have little doubt, that day had something to do with big strong Cuffy deciding that it made more sense to bowl at the wicket, than to bounce at people.