CWI  lauds Sir Viv after CARICOM award

Cricket West Indies has hailed the iconic Sir Vivian Richards for helping the region “establish new levels of greatness,” after the former West Indies captain was presented with the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC) on Sunday, July 26 in Suriname.

Sir Viv, the only West Indies captain never to have lost a Test series, presided over one of the halcyon periods for the Caribbean side during the 1980s, while also carving his name into history as perhaps the most dominant batsmen of his era.

The 70-year-old Antiguan was one of four CARICOM nationals conferred with the honor at the 43rd CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Suriname.

“On behalf of the board of directors of CWI and the entire West Indies cricket community I want to congratulate Sir Viv on this tremendous honor, which was  conferred on him by CARICOM,” CWI President Ricky Skerrit said in a statement.

“Sir Viv took the baton from the pioneers of West Indies Cricket and established a new level of greatness and dominance for others to follow,” he said.

He also played pivotal roles in West Indies capture of the 50-over World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979 — scoring a magnificent century in the latter final.