Dick Richardson
Encyclopedia
For the Welsh boxer see Dick Richardson (boxer)
Dick Richardson (born Derek Walter Richardson, 3 November 1934, Hereford
, England
) is an English
former cricket
er, who played in one Test
for England in 1957. His county cricket
career was spent entirely with Worcestershire
.
The cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted "Richardson's Test career was brief but historic. When he played in the same team as his more famous brother, Peter, at Trent Bridge in 1957 against the West Indies, it was the first time... [in the 20th century] of siblings appearing in the same team for England".
opening batsman Peter Richardson
, Dick Richardson was a middle-order left-handed batsman and a fine fielder in close catching positions. Unlike his older brother, Dick spent most of his time with Worcestershire
as a professional, and remained with the county throughout his first-class cricket
career.
Playing regularly for the county from 1955, Richardson made 1,000 runs for the first time in the following season when he turned professional, and, in 1957, came right to the forefront with 1,830 runs at an average of 32 runs per innings. He was picked, alongside his brother, for the third Test match against West Indies
at Trent Bridge
. Coming into bat on a batsman's wicket when England, largely through Tom Graveney
's 258, had already scored 510 for four wickets, Richardson made 33 in seventy minutes. It was not enough to keep his place. David Sheppard
, by 1957 a part-time cricketer, was available for the remaining two Tests of the series and was preferred. Richardson was never selected again.
His career went into a fairly steep decline in 1958: he completed 1,000 runs, just, but his highest score for the season was only 60. It is likely that this is the lowest top score ever by a batsman completing 1,000 runs in an English cricket season. Richardson may have been unsettled by the dispute between Worcestershire and his brother, who was the amateur county captain
, over Peter Richardson's desire to turn professional. Peter Richardson left the county at the end of the season, and signed for Kent
, but Worcestershire contested the registration, and the player was forced to sit out the 1959 season while he qualified for his new county.
Dick Richardson's career recovered, to the extent that he made significantly over 1,500 runs for Worcestershire in each of the four seasons from 1959 to 1962, and from 1961 he was among the top fieldsmen in England. His 65 catches in 1961 remains the Worcestershire county record, and he holds five out of the top 10 season's fielding records for the county. His career total of 412 catches for Worcestershire is a record for a non-wicketkeeper too.
From 1963 onwards, Richardson's fielding ensured his continued selection for Worcestershire as his batting became less reliable, and he was a regular member of the side that won, for the first time, the County Championship
in 1964, and again the following year. In 1965, however, he failed to complete his 1,000 runs, and there was further decline in 1966. He lost his place in the Worcestershire team in 1967, and left first-class cricket at the end of that season at the age of only 32.
Apart from Peter Richardson, Dick Richardson's younger brother, Bryan, was also a first-class cricketer, playing intermittently for Warwickshire
.
Dick Richardson (boxer)
Dick Richardson was a heavyweight boxer from the Maesglas area of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He held the European heavyweight title from March 1960 to June 1962. In all, he won 31 of his 47 professional bouts, losing 14, with two drawn. He was 6 ft 3ins tall and weighed about 200 lbs...
Dick Richardson (born Derek Walter Richardson, 3 November 1934, Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, who played in one Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for England in 1957. His county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
career was spent entirely with Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
.
The cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted "Richardson's Test career was brief but historic. When he played in the same team as his more famous brother, Peter, at Trent Bridge in 1957 against the West Indies, it was the first time... [in the 20th century] of siblings appearing in the same team for England".
Life and career
The younger brother of EnglandEnglish cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
opening batsman Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
, Dick Richardson was a middle-order left-handed batsman and a fine fielder in close catching positions. Unlike his older brother, Dick spent most of his time with Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
as a professional, and remained with the county throughout his first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
career.
Playing regularly for the county from 1955, Richardson made 1,000 runs for the first time in the following season when he turned professional, and, in 1957, came right to the forefront with 1,830 runs at an average of 32 runs per innings. He was picked, alongside his brother, for the third Test match against West Indies
West Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
. Coming into bat on a batsman's wicket when England, largely through Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
's 258, had already scored 510 for four wickets, Richardson made 33 in seventy minutes. It was not enough to keep his place. David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
, by 1957 a part-time cricketer, was available for the remaining two Tests of the series and was preferred. Richardson was never selected again.
His career went into a fairly steep decline in 1958: he completed 1,000 runs, just, but his highest score for the season was only 60. It is likely that this is the lowest top score ever by a batsman completing 1,000 runs in an English cricket season. Richardson may have been unsettled by the dispute between Worcestershire and his brother, who was the amateur county captain
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
, over Peter Richardson's desire to turn professional. Peter Richardson left the county at the end of the season, and signed for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, but Worcestershire contested the registration, and the player was forced to sit out the 1959 season while he qualified for his new county.
Dick Richardson's career recovered, to the extent that he made significantly over 1,500 runs for Worcestershire in each of the four seasons from 1959 to 1962, and from 1961 he was among the top fieldsmen in England. His 65 catches in 1961 remains the Worcestershire county record, and he holds five out of the top 10 season's fielding records for the county. His career total of 412 catches for Worcestershire is a record for a non-wicketkeeper too.
From 1963 onwards, Richardson's fielding ensured his continued selection for Worcestershire as his batting became less reliable, and he was a regular member of the side that won, for the first time, the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
in 1964, and again the following year. In 1965, however, he failed to complete his 1,000 runs, and there was further decline in 1966. He lost his place in the Worcestershire team in 1967, and left first-class cricket at the end of that season at the age of only 32.
Apart from Peter Richardson, Dick Richardson's younger brother, Bryan, was also a first-class cricketer, playing intermittently for Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
.