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Viv Richards Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 17, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth7 March 1952

BirthplaceSt. John's, British Leeward Islands (Now, Antigua and Barbuda)

ProfessionFormer West Indian Cricketer

NationalityAntiguan

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMiriam

FamilySons - Mali Richards, Matara Richards; Daughter - Masaba Gupta; Father - Malcom Richards; Mother - Gretel Richards; Brothers - Mervyn Richards, Donald Richards

Net worth$20 million

Viv Richards Biography

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, commonly known as Viv Richards, is an Antiguan former West Indian cricketer celebrated for his aggressive batting and雄

Early life and background

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards was born on 7 March 1952 in St. John's, then part of the British Leeward Islands (now Antigua and Barbuda). He grew up in St. John's and attended St. John's Boys Primary School before moving on to Antigua Grammar School. Cricket ran in his family: his father, Malcom Richards, played first-class cricket, and his older brothers Mervyn and Donald were influential in his early development as a player. Richards left formal education as a teenager and worked locally while nurturing his cricket skills with neighborhood clubs.

Career

Richards made his first-class debut in January 1972 for the Leeward Islands against the Windwards. He broke into international cricket with his Test debut against India on 22 November 1974 and his One-Day International debut versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on 7 June 1975. Over an international career that spanned the 1970s and 1980s, he became known for an exceptionally aggressive style of batting and for rarely wearing a helmet at the crease.

At domestic level Richards represented several teams across different competitions. His long county career included spells with Somerset from 1974 to 1986 and later Glamorgan from 1990 to 1993. He also played for Combined Islands, the Leeward Islands, and had stints with Queensland in 1976–77. In 1984 he produced one of his most famous innings, an unbeaten 189 in an ODI against England that rescued his side from a difficult position and featured a century partnership with the last man.

Richards captained the West Indies in Test cricket from 1984 to 1991. During that tenure he led the side in 50 Tests, winning 27 and losing eight. His career contains several notable firsts and records: he was the first batsman to score a Test century at a strike rate over 150 (1986); he set the highest individual ODI score for a number four batsman with the unbeaten 189; and he holds distinctions for all-round contributions in ODIs, including becoming the first player to combine a fifty with a five-wicket haul and the first to record a century and a five-wicket haul in the same ODI match. He was also the first player in ODI history to accumulate 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets.

Public profile

Richards' impact on the game was recognised with a number of honours. He was named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1977, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1994, and was made a Knight of the Order of the National Hero of Antigua and Barbuda in 1999. In 2000, a 100-member panel that selected Wisden Cricketers of the Century placed him among five all-time greats.

Beyond playing, Richards has been involved in cricket in various capacities. He has appeared on the BBC's Test Match Special as a commentator and was featured in the 2010 documentary Fire in Babylon, which explored the West Indies teams of his era. He served as mentor for the Indian Premier League's Delhi Daredevils in 2013 and worked with Pakistan Super League franchise Quetta Gladiators between 2016 and 2018. His stature in Antigua is reflected by the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which bears his name.

Personal life

Richards is married to Miriam and is a father to three children: sons Mali Richards and Matara Richards, who have played cricket, and a daughter, Masaba Gupta, who works as a costume designer. His close friendships in the cricket world include a long-standing relationship with English all-rounder Ian Botham; Richards is godfather to Botham's son Liam. He has written about his life in sports, publishing Hitting Across the Line in 1981.

Latest updates

After retirement Richards has remained a visible figure in cricket media and franchise mentoring. He was active as a mentor in T20 franchise competitions into the late 2010s and continues to be a frequent voice on cricket programmes and in documentaries that examine the golden era of West Indies cricket.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Viv Richards, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Mentor, Quetta Gladiators

Served as mentor for the Pakistan Super League franchise from 2016 to 2018

2016-2018
Mentor, Delhi Daredevils

Mentored the Indian Premier League side for the 2013 season

2013
Featured, Fire in Babylon

Appeared in the 2010 documentary about West Indies cricket

2010
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Career Highlights

  1. Test debut vs India, 22 November 1974
  2. ODI debut vs Sri Lanka, 7 June 1975
  3. Unbeaten 189 in ODI vs England, 1984
  4. Led West Indies in 50 Tests (1984–1991), winning 27
  5. Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1977)
  6. Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1994)
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Net Worth

$20 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Viv Richards born?

Viv Richards was born on 7 March 1952.

What is Viv Richards known for?

Viv Richards is known for former West Indian Cricketer.

What is Viv Richards’s marital status?

Viv Richards's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Viv Richards married to?

Viv Richards is publicly listed as married to Miriam.

What is Viv Richards’s net worth?

Viv Richards's net worth is commonly listed as $20 million, based on available public profile information.