Barry “Anderson” Richards

Barry Anderson Richards was born on 21 July 1945 in Morningside, Durban in Natal. Richards played cricket for Natal at his early teens and was rewarded with a promotion to the senior team in the early sixties. In 1967 he took a contract with an English Country Club, Hampshire and was an opening batsman. His blossoming career coincided with South Africa on the verge of international isolation due to apartheid laws in sports. In 1968 he performed in an outstanding manner for his county team. In that year he was named the South African Cricketer of the Year.

Richards stunned the cricket fraternity in Perth, Australia in 1970/71 season by scoring 325 not out in One Day International. In that season he scored 1538 runs, which sets a new record for the state of Sheffield. Richards played in four tests before South Africa was banned from competing in international matches in 1970. In his short career as a Springbok cricket player, he demonstrated his ability and was recognised as the best-ever player of his generation to have graced the playing fields. During a provincial match in 1971, Richards was one of the players who staged a walk-off in protest against the government’s apartheid policies. In 1983 he joined Queensland Cricket Union as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership club won the Sheffield shield something, they never achieved since their admission in the 1926/27.

He was often criticised for finding the game of cricket too easy and as such did not perform to his best. This agitated fans since they wanted to see the best in him. Richards migrated to Australia where he works as a commentator for a private television channel.