Wisden Cricketers' Almanack obituary

LANGRIDGE, RICHARD JAMES, who died on January 3, 2005, aged 65, was a member of the famous Sussex cricket family. His father James played eight times for England and his uncle John scored 76 centuries without winning a Test cap. The achievements of Richard, a tall left-hander, were more modest, although he did enjoy two golden seasons which led to talk of an England call-up. After 1,675 runs in 1961, he topped that with 1,885 in 1962 - but fell away afterwards as bowlers worked out his preference for the front foot. "Before long, I didn't get anything pitched up at all," he admitted. "I was a grafter, never a box-office batsman." Langridge was part of the Sussex side that won the first two Gillette Cups in 1963 and 1964, and was the first batsman to take strike (against Jack Flavell) in a Lord's final, going on to make a vital 34 in a low-scoring match. He coached at Queen's College in South Africa and recommended a tall youngster called Tony Greig to Sussex. "He was one of the nicest guys that I've ever met," said Greig.