Viv, at the time, stood at the pinnacle of world batting. His position was unchallenged, and much in the way that the deadly gunslinger was feared in the old west, many cowered at the thought of facing him. Chewing-gum was an ever-present part of his armour; the helmet wasnt. And his measured walk to the middle, often accompanied by rapturous cheers, was enough to intimidate all but the toughest of bowlers.
So long as you were willing to put aside the inevitable feeling of inadequacy, batting with Viv must have been quite pleasant. Think of it: Since there was hardly an attack or even a bowler capable of tying him down for any prolonged period, there would be very little scoreboard pressure; additionally, you would have a front-row seat to what was the finest travelling show in cricket.
The Batting Emperors capacity for mayhem was so far ahead of everyone elses that nobody thought there was a batsman breathing that could outshine him from the other end. The World Cup final, contested on crickets most prestigious ground, was the games biggest stage and provided the perfect context for a memorable performance from the master. And though he didnt disappoint it was King who commanded the stage that day, forcing Viv, for one of the few times in his career, out of his usual lead role, into that of supporting cast.
