Roberts, Richardson and Ambrose to be knighted

St. John`s (Antigua): Three West Indies cricket legends are to be knighted during the first One-Day International (ODI) between England and the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Friday, media reports said.

Former fast bowlers Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose and former West Indies captain and batsman Richie Richardson will be knighted, the Antigua Observer reported Monday.

Organisers planning the event have been tight-lipped but the Observer quoted sources as saying that the Antigua and Barbuda cricket greats will be knighted during the lunch break by Governor General Louise Lake-Tack, CMC reported.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Leader of the Opposition Gaston Browne will also be attending the function.

Roberts, the first Antiguan and Barbudan to represent the West Indies made his debut against England in March 1974.

The bowler was part of the quartet of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-seventies to the early eighties that had a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and One-Day International levels.

The other three bowlers are Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.

Former West Indies captain and middle order batsman, Sir Viv Richards, arguably the finest batsman of his generation, was knighted in 1999.