Orin Gordon BBC Caribbean Reporter

	Three great West Indies cricketers visit BBC Caribbean

Sir Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge and the Reverend Wes Hall had arrived at our office at Bush House for an interview.

One foreign correspondent (I won't name him, he'd be embarrassed) stood behind Greenidge, pointed at him furtively and mouthed silently to me "Greenidge!?".

I nodded. He then touched him on the shoulder ever so lightly, as if to confirm what he was seeing.

Richards

Prominent on my bookshelf at home is a picture taken in Dublin more than 7 years ago.

Viv Richards, me and Barbadian commentator Donna Symmonds, chatting during a break from reporting a match of the 1999 cricket world cup.

Gordon Brooks, the Barbadian sports photographer, got one I'll be showing to my grandchildren many years from now.

Richards is one my heroes, a man who went into battle wearing his maroon cap and with a presence that bordered on arrogance.

"A one-man rebuttal against colonial history", is how former Wisden editor Matthew Engel memorably described him.

These days he wears his celebrity lightly. Charming, engaged, ready with a quip and laugh, and seemingly oblivious to the flutter he causes.

Greenidge

Gordon Greenidge I saw play for the first time against that thrilling Pakistan team in 1977, a slightly overawed 11 year old sitting right up alongside the fence at Bourda.

He was a heavy punisher of the bad ball, and played the hook and cut shots to destructive effect.

But he allied this with a soundness of technique and rarely gave his wicket away.

For me, one of cricket's iconic photos is Greenidge playing the square cut. No one did it better.

Like Richards, he was a member of the great side that dominated world cricket from the mid-seventies for over a decade.

Hall

If Wes Hall had been playing in the modern era where matches are more frequent, he'd have taken far more than the 192 wickets he did.

A fast, fluid and tireless bowler in his day, he showed great nerve under one of the tensest finishes in cricket--- the tied test in Brisbane in 1961.

I never saw him play, but he still looks awesome on black and white reels. Today, the Reverend Hall is one of the most respected figures in the game.

Urbane, thoughtful and possessing a wonderful dry wit, he Richards and Greenidge are very good communicators.

A great day at the office

In our studio, they complimented each other well.

You should listen for the moment when Greenidge hits my long-hop for six (I'd challenged him on whether talent was enough), all the while with a smile in his voice.

Once they arrived in the building, their many admirers descended on our office and studio.

In London to bat for their countries at World Travel Market, we're grateful that the 3 greats took the time to come in, talk to us and watch us all lose our composure.

It was a great day at the office.