Viv Named Antiguan 'National Hero'

Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards has been named a National Hero in his native Antigua and Barbuda.

Richards, who played in 121 Test matches for the Caribbean side, received the honour during celebrations for Antigua and Barbuda's 25th anniversary of independence.

Richards, considered one of Antigua's most famous sons, is widely respected for his personal principles in refusing a "blank cheque" offer to play for a rebel West Indian squad in South Africa during the apartheid era in 1983, and again in 1984.

Richards also played football for the Antigua national team, appearing in qualifying matches for the 1974 World Cup. He was chosen as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1977.

As captain, he won 27 of 50 matches, losing only eight. He never lost a Test series as captain and holds the record for the fastest ever Test century (56-balls).

In a spectacular career that spanned the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Richards scored 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23, including 24 centuries. He also scored 5 centuries in World Series Cricket between 1977-79.