Share

Richards: England will dominate

London - West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards said on Tuesday he expects Andrew Strauss's England to dominate Test cricket over the next few years.

England took over the top of the Test rankings for the first time last summer, displacing India with a 4-0 series whitewash after an Ashes series win in Australia.

And Richards, 60, who played a starring role in the all-conquering Windies team that did not lose a Test series between 1980 and 1995, feels Strauss' men can enjoy a long stay at the top.

"England are well led by Andrew Strauss and this is a team that has the potential to create a legacy," he told BBC Sport.

"They have done their homework and found a solid wicket-taking bowling unit which is of vital importance at this level."

Richards, who scored 8 540 runs in 121 Tests, warned though that England's iconic status hinged on their ability to win away.

England were beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year and, after drawing 1-1 in Sri Lanka, face a tough trip to India at the end of the year.

"It is up to the individuals, but in order to become legendary and great you must be able to win in all conditions," he said.

"It is not just getting it done at home, it is going to places like India and Pakistan and getting a result.

"You don't necessarily have to win, drawing a series can be a good result. It's like football where away from home, a point is just as vital.

"Not losing, scrapping, this is what great teams do and England have a unit assembled to accomplish that."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1780 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE