Cricket: Richardson is still a man for all seasons

IT WAS supposed to be a straightforward interview with Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain who this summer has been plying his trade with an East Kent League Cricket Club called Suttonians.

Still only 35, Richardson, one of the most gifted batsmen in the world during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and a man who only retired from Test cricket a couple of years ago, has been clouting the ball to all parts of various Kentish boundaries as he has become, at least in the south-east of England, the star attraction once again.

A nice, gentle afternoon's work lay in store, watching the master pulverise a hapless bunch of opposition club bowlers, while I helped myself to a couple of cucumber sandwiches, a large slice of chocolate cake and a cup of tea.

Then David Folb, chairman of Suttonians, and the man who enticed Richardson over from the West Indies much to his club's incredulity, made a suggestion. "If you're any good, why don't you play for us?"

I used to play a great deal of cricket, first at school and then, in my early twenties, for a Wiltshire Village club. Since then, however, my whites had been donned only on a couple of occasions. Still, the old competitive juices began to flow, and the invitation to play alongside Richardson proved too much of an opportunity to turn down.

Despite my lack of match practice, I fancied my chances - at least until John Steer, one of the Suttonians Committee Members, described the calibre of my fellow team-mates. Apart from Richardson, Suttonians also boasted Amitava Banerjee, a young opening batsman and first-change fast bowler who happened to play for Bengal and was on the verge of making the Indian Test squad. They also featured Robert Joseph, a 16-year-old fast bowler who has already played for Antigua's under-16 side.

Suttonians, named because their home ground is at Maidstone's Sutton Valence School, were playing away at Sherwood Cricket Club, whose own ground faces the rather intimidating and featureless walls of Chatham's Borstal Prison. Here I met my colleagues for the day, including a relaxed and friendly Richardson.

"We're batting, and you're going to open for us," he told me. "We'll have to talk later, Good luck." My already dented confidence quickly evaporated once I saw the bouncy wicket, heard that I'd be facing Kent's Under-19 opening fast bowler, and was then asked to join in a prayer in the team dressing-room.

After surviving a hostile first over, including a first ball that I might have nicked if I had been a better quality batsman, and a third ball that nearly decapitated me, it was time to go on the offensive on the basis that, sooner rather than later, I would be out. With Banerjee and Richardson to follow in the batting order, there was no point in hanging around.

A half-volley on the off stump was sliced inches over backward point's diving hand for four, followed by a cover drive boundary which, had it been straight at cover rather than between him and extra cover, would have been a simple catch. Richardson, as the temporary umpire, had a bird's eye view of all this. "Feeling better now?" he asked, surveying my face. He added knowingly: "It's good to be nervous."

A few overs later I managed to dig out an inswinging ball for four through the slips, and then pulled a short ball for another boundary. Richardson gave me the thumbs up and muttered: "That last shot was played like a West Indian."

Somehow I had raced to 21 and couldn't believe my luck, having envisaged a humiliating duck. However, just when the dream about a half-century began to form, I lost my off stump to a fast, low delivery.

Although Banerjee was run out for just six runs, Richardson sometimes stroked and caressed, and other times thumped and belted the ball to all points of the field. Once, after a straight six, the other Suttonians players rushed round to the car park to make sure none of their cars had been hit. In no time he reached an unbeaten 79 and declared the innings on 237-4.

Over tea Richardson gave me his verdict. "Not bad, considering how little you've played recently. You were too nervous, especially against the quick bowler. You must be positive against these guys. And I thought your strokes were a bit on the chancy side. Quite a few flew in the air, didn't they? Still, you did OK, and you gave us a good start."

Sherwood, despite an impressive innings from one of their opening batsmen, soon subsided to Suttonians' bowlers, and especially to the pace of Robert Joseph who bumped, battered and bruised most of the early and middle order. Awarded the Richie Richardson scholarship at Sutton Valence School, he is a name to look out for.

Right now, however, Richardson's the man, and as he led his team off the pitch with a 99-run win under his belt, having found himself in the unusual position of wicketkeeper, he seemed more than satisfied with his day's work. "Always good to win, you know," he said, smiling. "No matter the level. Now, let's talk."

And so we did. After an 86-Test career, spanning 12 years between 1983 and 1995, Richardson had grown tired and disillusioned with international cricket. "Playing at such an intense level for 12 months every year for so long proved too much for me. "I was getting bored, and I couldn't motivate myself any longer.

"I was trying, but it was turning into a chore each day. I just wasn't looking forward to playing cricket when I woke up, and it was affecting my game. Being captain of the West Indies was a great honour, of course, but it made all this worse. I had no time in the day for myself."

So Richardson quit. "I wanted to enjoy life, relax a little," he explained. Two years ago his agent introduced him to David Folb, who recognised the attributes Richardson could bring to Suttonians Cricket Club, Sutton Valence School, and to Kent cricket in general. Moreover, he was prepared to pay for the services of such a famous name.

"It was exactly what I wanted, and needed," Richardson admitted. "I've had a great deal of fun, and much support from everyone at the club. I play maybe four or five times a week, as well as make a lot of charity appearances. I also enjoy assisting youngsters at the school. That's where the future lies."

Does he, as his display that afternoon suggested, find the playing side easy? "Well, it wasn't that easy to go from Test level to the Kent League, and some of the wickets have been difficult to bat on, so I've had to apply myself." And I bet every bowler he faces is hoping to dine out on how he claimed the former West Indies captain's wicket? "Oh yes, for sure" he replied, taking a long swig of beer. "But that's OK. I like a challenge."

Richardson still plays at a higher grade of cricket away from the English summer, and expects to play for the Windward Islands in this winter's Red Stripe tournament, as he did last year. He is also off to Kuala Lumpur in a fortnight's time to play for Antigua at the Commonwealth Games.

Does he ever miss playing for the West Indies? Some say he could still make the Test team. "No, not really," he replied. "Sometimes I watch the boys on television and think it would be nice to be playing with them. I'm seeing the ball as well as ever and I know I can still bat, but I want to see youngsters coming through for the West Indies.

"That's been our problem, you see. A few years ago, when we were the best, we didn't look after our future cricketers. We took it for granted that we'd carry on beating everyone. We ignored the grass roots. That's why we're struggling, and now kids in the West Indies are starting to play basketball and American football instead."

Still, it's not Richardson's problem, not any more. He wants to see out his cricketing days playing for Suttonians. "That will suit me down to the ground." He admitted, as he changed in the dressing-room and congratulated his players. He is known simply as "God" now to his team-mates who clearly adore his on and off-field companionship.

I, too, enjoyed his captaincy that afternoon, returning home as happy as a child on his birthday. OK, so 21 is hardly a massive score, but it gained Richie Richardson's seal of approval. That will do for me.