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For those who started watching cricket after 1991

In reply to Dukes

My sporting hero! Had the privilege of seeing live in action once and the pleasure of meeting him once and getting my bat autographed!

In reply to Dukes

In reply to Dukes

I have my own little VIv story….

Jamaica was playing the Leewards at Sabina in 1986..Patrick Patterson had burst unto the scene as the fastest bowler that ever lived
By 8 am that day Sabina was packed to the rafters ….Patto cleaned up Richie Richardson before he could raise his bat…middle stump went cartwheeling…big buzz around Bina as we wondered if Viv was going to finally don a helmet….Viv sauntered out in typical Viv fashion. - helmet be dammed…

Patto bounded in, lifted his leg in that high kick delivery style and bowled a lightning quick bouncer - Viv swayed out of the way. - then glared at Patto…strolled down the pitch to do some gardening..tapped on a spot that was about 3 feet from where Patto delivered ….next ball was another bouncer which Viv moved across and hooked viciously over deep backward square leg for a boundary…crowd was now in a frenzy…

Patto ran again and bowled short again..Viv unleashed the most savage of square cuts that bounced off the Kingston Cricket Club pavilion and rebounded about 20 yards back into the field…crowd now in delirium….

Next ball Patto ran in clearly mad as hell..bounced Viv again and Viv stepped inside and unleashed another hook which was seemingly sailing over the fence at South Camp Road…by some magic Walsh who was not known for his fielding prowess - stretched up to his maximum height and plucked a magnificent catch out of the air to send Viv on his way..

Deafening silence at Bina…then the crowd started to boo Walsh….and threatened to pelt him with bottles..Walsh had to temporarily retreat to the safety of the middle…

It was one of the most memorable moments I have ever experienced in cricket..even now I still get chills from remembering that moment…

Long Live The King

In reply to FanAttick

Stories such as yours are what make the cricket memorable.

Thanks.

And on topic - there was no cricketer who dominated (the best word I have) than Viv.

A god among mortals.

In reply to Verstehen

In reply to FanAttick
That encounter was the 2nd inning Walsh had Viv caught in the 1st. Patto had unfortunately removed at least two of Luther Kelly's teeth in the 1st where Viv came at about 5. Leewards were allout for 44! Next inning Viv promoted himself to #3. I think he WHACKED Patto for 4 through the offside. Sauntered down the pitch and 'gardened' got back in the crease and as we would say looked Patto 'up n dung'. When Patto bounced him, fast as the delivery was he was in position in a flash and it was more a miscue than being hurried that had it sailing to Walsh who actually covered some ground to get there. I doubt he ever did that before or again. Viv made only 5 I think

In reply to Brerzerk

Yours may be true but Fan’s story, as stories go, sounds better, if you know what I mean

In reply to sudden

Totally..

met him once, never meet your heroes

In reply to Dukes

Thanks Dukes.