Richie promises Lashings of runs (From Gazette & Herald)

Richie promises Lashings of runs

SUN, fun and plenty of runs are hoped for when Lashings play a John Smith's XI representative side at Malton and Old Malton's ground this Sunday.

While the weather remains in the lap of the gods, Lashings skipper Richie Richardson (pictured inset) promises his side will aim to provide runs galore and lots of entertainment besides.

Speaking to the Gazette & Herald just after the Lashings openers had taken to the crease in their match with Cambridge University at Fenners last Friday, he said: "It should be a great show. The object will be to have lots of fun, score lots of runs and make it as entertaining and enjoyable as possible for everyone."

Richardson, who captained the West Indies 23 times and averaged over 44 runs in 86 tests, was one of the first to sign for the Maidstone-based Lashings team in 1996, when they were little more than a pub side.

The 42-year-old Antiguan said: "When I joined, we played in the village leagues for two seasons. We won everything, but we couldn't get promoted to the Kent league. I suggested we form an international eleven and things have gone really well and are getting even better."

Lashings are now known as the 'Harlem Globetrotters of cricket' with players such as Viv Richards, Shane Warne and Brian Lara having all starred for the team.

Players lined up for this Sunday's clash, which is hoped will attract a four-figure capacity crowd, include names such as Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, who hit the fastest ever one-day century in the 1996-97 season, and Franklyn Rose, who became the first West Indian to claim six wickets on his test debut.

The game at Malton has added significance for Richardson, as it is a chance to return to the county he represented during the mid-90s.

"It will be wonderful to return to Yorkshire. I still have a lot of friends there and I'll be looking forward to meeting up with a few of them and having a few drinks with them," said the right-hander, whose bat is supplied by Malton-based craftsman Nick Nixon, who helped set the match up.

The game at Malton will be Lashings' fourth in a packed schedule throughout the summer, which means Richie may not get to any of the matches when the West Indies face England in the test and one-day series this summer.

He said: "We've a busy schedule, but I'll be supporting the guys. The West Indies are a young, up-and-coming, enthusiastic team with a lot to learn." While admitting that England were playing well, he didn't rule out his native side causing an upset and gaining revenge for their 3-0 drubbing in the Caribbean.

One of the few batsmen never to wear a helmet (except in his last test), Richardson became renowned for his large-rimmed maroon-coloured sun hat, but this won't be on show this Sunday.

"It's kind of dead, because Lashings wear all black and it doesn't really fit in with the colour scheme! I still use it at home though," said Richie.

Sun hat or no sun hat, the visit of one of the top West Indian batsmen of the last 20 years should be one of the highlights of Sunday's match.

Updated: 13:07 Wednesday, June 16, 2004