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OTD In 1991: Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon And Malcolm Marshall Ended An Era With Their Final Test

Jatin

Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon And Malcolm Marshall [Source: @Cric_bhagya82/x.com]Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon And Malcolm Marshall [Source: @Cric_bhagya82/x.com]

August 12, 1991 - a date that still tugs at the heartstrings of West Indies cricket fans. It was the final day in Test whites for three of the Caribbean’s greatest: Sir Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall.

And fittingly, they bowed out together in the heat of battle against England, closing a glorious chapter in West Indies’ golden era. It was the end of an era where swagger, skill and steel defined every contest.

Viv Richards Signs Off With Trademark Grit

Sir Viv Richards, the king of intimidation strode out in the second innings with West Indies still in the fight. And true to style, he signed off with a knock dripping in class, cracking 60 off 105 balls with nine sweetly-timed boundaries.

His first dig? Over in a flash for just 2 runs. But when he came back, Viv was all composure and authority, the same aura that kept his Test average above 50. Even in his farewell innings, he walked off like he still owned the ground because, let’s be honest, he pretty much did.

Jeff Dujon’s Last Day Behind The Stumps

For Jeff Dujon, the scorecard didn’t do justice to his impact. With the gloves, he was as steady as ever, claiming catches in both innings of England’s chase. But with the bat, the script wasn’t kind, a first-ball duck in the first innings and 5 runs in the second.

Still, his final tally of 272 dismissals remains a West Indies record for a wicketkeeper, which is proof of years of sharp hands and a cricketing brain that always seemed two steps ahead.

Malcolm Marshall’s Farewell With Ball In Hand

Malcolm Marshall had tormented batters for over a decade and even in his last Test, he left a parting gift, the wicket of England captain Graham Gooch in the second innings, trapped lbw for 29. In the first innings, he also sent back Robin Smith for 109.

In the second innings, he bowled with his usual brilliance, conceding just nine runs in five overs. His final match figures read 1 for 62 and 1 for 9 as he closed his career at 376 wickets at a sensational average of 20.94. 

The Match That Closed A Chapter

The 5th Test saw England post a mammoth 419 in their first innings with Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh both taking three wickets each. West Indies were bundled out for 176 in reply, Phil Tufnell doing the damage with 6 for 25. Following on, Richie Richardson’s magnificent 121 and Viv’s 60 lifted West Indies to 385 but England chased 143 with five wickets to spare.

The Legacy They Left

  • Viv Richards: 121 Tests, 8,540 runs, 50.2 average, 24 hundreds.
  • Jeff Dujon: 81 Tests, 3,322 runs, 272 dismissals (265 catches, 7 stumpings).
  • Malcolm Marshall: 81 Tests, 376 wickets at 20.94, 22 five wicket hauls

August 12, 1991, was the day West Indies waved goodbye to three match-winners who shaped cricket’s golden memories. Even decades later, the images of Viv’s swagger, Dujon’s safe hands and Marshall’s menacing run-up still play in the minds of those who watched them rule the game.