West Indies legends Sir Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards recently returned to Lord’s. They were special guests as Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) unveiled the famous World Cup trophy which they won in 1975 and 1979. The event was organised by Philip Spooner, the former media manager for West Indies Men’s Team and former manager of media for Cricket West Indies (CWI). With the two legends attending the first Test match against England, this presented the opportunity for the collaboration with the MCC.
Sir Clive was the Man of the Match of the final in 1975 when he scored 102 against Australia as West Indies became the first team to lift the World Cup. Four years later, again at Lord’s, Sir Viv scored 138 not out to be named Man of the Match when West Indies beat England to win the prestigious title for the second time.
Sir Viv said: “I am really appreciative, and I want to thank the organisers for putting on this gesture whereby Clive and myself can be back here at the MCC museum at this magnificent venue to get our hands on the World Cup again. When you put on your pads and your gloves and you go out to bat for your people, you never really expected these things, but it’s really magnificent to relive the magical memories of those two World Cup victories…returning to where I made my century and batted with Collis King who also played magnificently. It was like a dream.”
Sir Clive said: “It’s always special to be back here… Lord’s is special for several reasons. We have done well here over the years and it is quite a wonderful, this is the cricketer’s stage to perform. It brings back the wonderful memories of the 1975 and 1979 wins in the World Cup, when we were the best team in the world. Being the first captain to win the World Cup was magical and I am proud to be back here to again lift the World Cup on behalf of the other great men who played alongside me and represented the people of the West Indies. I thank everyone involved for making this happen.
Spooner said: “This was a wonderful occasion as we reunited the great men Sir Clive and Sir Viv with the World Cup trophy which they won back in 1975 and 1979. It was simply amazing to see the looks on their proud faces when they touch it again. We had a wonderful occasion during the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when we organised for Sir Clive to be honoured in Barbados and Sir Viv in Antigua, as they walked out with the T20 World Cup trophy. Then we took it one step further and reunited at Lords. Special thanks to the Team at MCC for sharing the vision as we continue to celebrate the finest and best moments in West Indies cricket history.”
