Sir Viv Richards hits back at Denesh Ramdin after the 'keeper-batsman's noteworthy show
Denesh Ramdin’s surly riposte to criticism from Viv Richards found little favour yesterday with the West Indies great.
Richards and Michael Holding, his fast-bowling team-mate in West Indies’ all-conquering team of the 1970s and 1980s, both made clear their low opinion of the hand-written note Ramdin held up to the crowd and television cameras at Edgbaston after scoring his second Test hundred.
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I’ve Done It: Denesh Ramdin holds up a note after scoring a century against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday. PIC/AFP
Holding went as far as to suggest Ramdin ought to be fined by the Windies management, while Richards merely questioned whether the wicketkeeper is yet in position to be making such provocative gestures.
On completing his hundred on day four of the third Investec Test, in a last-wicket stand of 143 with Tino Best, Ramdin held up a sheet of paper which read: ‘Yeah Viv, Talk Nah’.
It is thought to be a reaction to criticism Richards voiced of Ramdin last month, in which he suggested his performances had “deteriorated in a big way”.
Sir Vivian Richards
“Ramdin just looks out of sorts. When he first came into the game, I felt he was a huge prospect. For some reason, he has deteriorated in such a big way. Just the way he is walking back, he looks like a totally lost guy,” the former West Indian skipper had said after Ramdin’s poor start to the Test series against England with the scores of 6, 43, 1 and 6 in the four innings.
Richards does not believe one century, after West Indies have already lost this series, entitles Ramdin to respond as he has.
“It’s like in a football match... if you are losing 5-0 and you score a goal in the 90th minute, you shouldn’t be running around jumping for joy,” he said on the BBC’s Test Match Special.
“I wouldn’t be happy with that. I set my standards a bit higher.
“I’m glad he got the motivation to get himself going.
“It’s been a long time coming. If you are good enough, the chances certainly are you are going to get it done.
Play to win
“Let’s not forget it’s in a losing cause. Scoring a hundred when you are the team winning, that’s excellent stuff.
“He should be quite happy, and humble in himself.”
Holding went further, adding on Sky: “If I was the manager of the team I would be having a word with that player, and he would be getting a fine.
“I am not saying this because he (Richards) was my former captain — that is simply unbecoming behaviour from a player.” — u00a0
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