Mali Richards, the next Lara

Mali Richards, son of the great West Indian batsman and captain Viv Richards, plays his first match for the second team against Leicestershire this week. The young Richards considers himself thoroughly West Indian. An enthusiastic musician and MC, the spirit of calypso courses through his veins. Although he has modelled himself on Brian Charles, his physique is more reminiscent of another former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd — long, languid and left-handed, suggestive of an effortless elegance. His father has been his greatest influence, though, and the pair is in constant communication across the world in an attempt to iron out any remaining technical faults.

While many would view his genetic inheritance as a hindrance, a milestone weighing heavily around the neck, Mali is grateful for his lineage. Having a famous father has certainly made him accustomed to sledging, whether from team-mates or opposing fast bowlers. He said: “My dad played a big role in my development and I wouldn’t be playing cricket if I wasn’t his son. Anything he says about cricket I listen to because it’s coming from the greatest. He can be pretty hard but he just wants to see me do well. “He’s my father so the comparisons aren’t going to end. I get lots of stick about it, all around the world. Whenever I play a bad shot or get out the abuse starts. I also put a lot of pressure on myself but I think that recently my cricket has been very good,” the young man said. Comparisons with his father are inevitable, but flawed. The 19-year-old is a silky, left-handed batsman capable of bowling at brisk fast-medium and confidently proclaims himself to be a genuine all-rounder. If his batting is as smooth as his conversation then he could become one hell of a player. Richards said: “I was born in England but learnt my cricket in the West Indies. My cricket is West Indian but comparisons with my dad end there. “First of all I’m a leftie. He’s my dad but the way we play cricket is totally different. He was the type of player that took attacks apart through sheer brute force, but I’m more of a technician and like to push the ball around. My dad’s my favourite player but Brian Lara’s my modern batting hero,” he said.

Richards arrived at his new home in Wembley on the back of a monumental innings of Lara-esque proportions. His farewell appearance on the Antiguan Recreation Ground brought a record score of 319, carefully accumulated in 420 balls and over eight hours. The opposing US and British Virgin Islands sides were not the best in the world, having been dismissed for 47 and allowing Antigua to amass a gargantuan 789, but the runs still needed to be scored. If nothing else, the innings demonstrates Richards’ confidence and concentration. He said: “I’ve been in good form for the last month and it just took a bit of application. I made up my mind that I was going to bat all day and part of the next day and came away with 300. “The bowling wasn’t good but 300 runs is 300 runs. The positive thing is that I applied myself and didn’t allow them to drag me down. I was pleased with my mental strength which should take me to the next level.  I spoke to my dad afterwards and he said it was a great innings but don’t let it get to your head, keep going and get to the highest level. “His highest individual score was 322 for Somerset against Warwickshire, so now I’ve got a target to aim for and, hopefully, I can achieve it here,” he said.

Richards’ immediate goal is to force his way into a Middlesex side blessed with star names, albeit from distant generations, but he is already thinking one step ahead. He will not rule out playing for England. “Who knows what will happen?” he said. But it’s clear he craves to represent the islands in the sun.  His academic career will continue when he starts a sports coaching and business management degree at Oxford Brookes University in the autumn, but it’s in the international arena that he yearns to be tested. He said: “It’s my dream to play Test cricket. Less talented players than me have played Tests, but it’s all about hard work. If I put in the work over the next couple of years then I don’t see any reason why I can’t.” His father would surely agree.