Close, aged 45, hit by a Michael Holding bouncer

He learnt very quickly that it wasn't just a game - that he had to go out and work at it.

He learned when it was right to play forward or back and was a magnificent timer of the ball.

If you could say he had a weakness it was when facing slow left-armers.

Once he got in he looked to dominate and if he found the ball was there to be hit he went at it.

When he moved into the Test arena, very little changed. He obviously became a more polished cricketer, though.

I played against Viv in the summer of 1976 when the West Indians were on tour here.

Tony Greig was captain and Viv had a double hundred and a 50 in the first Test.

He didn't play at Lord's, because he was ill, but hit plenty more runs in the remainder of the series.

Tony Greig was captain in 1976

I would like to think it might have been a little different if I had been captain.

I would have tried to keep Viv guessing, consistently asking him questions but he was in such terrific form.

Viv was one hell of a fielder, too. He was sharp in the slips, and like a tiger in midfield.

I would always put him in the key positions - he was too good at it for me to give him a rest and put him out somewhere quiet.

Viv and Ian Botham played together for a while and we were a good batting side.

To be a great side, though, I knew we needed a great bowler.

Then Joel Garner joined Somerset in my final year as captain of Somerset, and he fitted the bill perfectly.

I ran into Viv at Headingley last year. He looked no different.

But I thought he had passed 50 long ago! Anyway - congratulations to him and I expect he'll be having a few drinks wherever he is.