Richards hails McCullum�s marvellous feat

AFP, DUBAI: Viv Richards said Saturday he was happy to see Brendon McCullum break his record for the fastest Test century, describing the New Zealander as one of the game’s finest ambassadors.
McCullum smashed a whirlwind 54-ball hundred on the first day of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch, needing two balls fewer than Richards and Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq to reach the three-figure landmark.
West Indian legend Richards set the record against England on his home ground Antigua in 1986 while Misbah equalled the feat against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
Richards, who is in Dubai as mentor for Pakistan Super League franchise Quetta, congratulated McCullum.
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate McCullum,” Richards told media.
“I have been a fan of yours for many years, so well done on your achievement.
“If there was going to be an individual who you would have liked to surpass whatever you have achieved in life, certainly it would have been you. You are a great ambassador and make the game beautiful.”
McCullum, playing his 101st and final Test, hit Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood for a boundary to reach the three-figure mark. He was finally dismissed for 145 in New Zealand’s total of 370.
Reflecting on his 1986 masterclass, Richards said his team needed quick runs to enforce a win and that made his task easier.
“That’s what happened in the end, it’s always about aggression and I wanted to get quick runs and when you do that it’s a marvellous achievement.”

Richards hails McCullum�s marvellous feat

AFP, DUBAI: Viv Richards said Saturday he was happy to see Brendon McCullum break his record for the fastest Test century, describing the New Zealander as one of the games finest ambassadors. McCullum smashed a whirlwind 54-ball hundred on the first day of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch, needing two balls fewer than Richards and Pakistans Misbah-ul-Haq to reach the three-figure landmark. West Indian legend Richards set the record against England on his home ground Antigua in 1986 while Misbah equalled the feat against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014. Richards, who is in Dubai as mentor for Pakistan Super League franchise Quetta, congratulated McCullum. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate McCullum, Richards told media. I have been a fan of yours for many years, so well done on your achievement. If there was going to be an individual who you would have liked to surpass whatever you have achieved in life, certainly it would have been you. You are a great ambassador and make the game beautiful. McCullum, playing his 101st and final Test, hit Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood for a boundary to reach the three-figure mark. He was finally dismissed for 145 in New Zealands total of 370. Reflecting on his 1986 masterclass, Richards said his team needed quick runs to enforce a win and that made his task easier. Thats what happened in the end, its always about aggression and I wanted to get quick runs and when you do that its a marvellous achievement.