Viv Marks Interview
OUCC recently spoke to Former England international Vic Marks (St John’s) about his time at Oxford and about his career in County and International cricket and also his time in cricket journalism.
What did you study?
‘Greats’, or classics I suppose it would be called these days and it was a 4 year course so I was able to play a year more cricket than most.
Did you play any college cricket?
A little bit, I can’t really remember playing often but I am sure I played once or twice. I can’t really remember any great success in Cuppers but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have any, it only means my memory has faded.
Did you play any other sports at Oxford?
I got a Half Blue in Rugby Fives and I played a bit of rugby and football for college but nothing too serious.
What is your favourite pub in the Oxford?
Eagle and Child was a regular spot for my friends and I and the KA was regularly visited with other cricketers but I would say Eagle and Child is where I spent most of my drinking time.
How did OUCC prepare you for your career?
It was a huge help. If I hadn’t have come to Oxford I wouldn’t have been playing against 1st class players at the age of 18/19 as I wasn’t in the Somerset 1st team back then and playing against all the counties, as Oxford did back then, was a great opportunity that I couldn’t have other was experienced at that age. I think my first game was against Tony Grief and John Snow, and it was such a great chance to play against some of the best players in the world at the time. The great pros were also willing to share their knowledge and experience with us, so it was not only great playing against them but it was a brilliant opportunity to find out more about the game from speaking to them. I can’t say we were all that successful against the counties though as we never won a first class game while I was there.
When you played at Oxford you played in one of its great sides, did you notice it at the time?
We had the likes of myself, Chris Tavaré and Imran Khan which in hindsight seems like an extremely strong team but at the time I am not sure we were head and shoulders above anyone else, it was always a struggle playing against the county sides.
What is your favourite ground?
I think I have to say Taunton, for obvious reasons. But beyond that I liked Kandi and all the old Caribbean grounds. I was always impressed by the grounds in Australia, except maybe the Gabba which has now become something of a concrete bowl.
Did you ever come back to the Parks?
Once or twice as a player I came back to Oxford to play against the Blues but I also covered a couple of matches after I retired while I was starting my career in journalism.
What was your favourite innings?
I remembered getting a few runs in Pakistan for England, I think I got 50s in Lahore and Faisalabad, so I would think of them as the runs I am most proud of.
Best team mate?
Playing with Viv [Richards] was excellent, as he is one of the all time great players. I always had great respect for Trevor Gard as well.
Best opponent?
I’d have to say Viv again, he was certainly the best batsman I ever played against. But bowling wise, Abdul Qadir was extremely good and any of the West Indies quicks from that era, it is difficult to pick just one .
Fastest bowler?
Any of the West Indies quicks. I never found Holding too bad to face, whilst he was very fast he had such a classical action that it gave you a chance to see it. He also had a terrifyingly long run, so it took a while for him to reach the crease which only served to increase the nerves.
Favourite Captain?
Brian Close was excellent as county level and it is tough to pick out one from my England days, they all had different attitudes and I enjoyed playing under them all immensely.
A lot is made of the dynamics from the Somerset dressing room from the time, what is your take on things?
There were some brilliant cricketers: Viv, Botham, Garner. At their best they were fantastic but if they weren’t on their game then getting the team to function was challenging. In the dressing room we had a real mix of characters: a couple of Oxbridge types (myself included), a couple of uncomplicated Somerset blokes and a few superstars.
How did you get into journalism/TMS?
While I was still playing I ended up writing a player column for the Observer. I wrote a few bits and pieces for magazines as well but it was only once Scyld Berry moved on I was offered the job of cricket correspondent. As for broadcasting, when I was on tour with England to India the producer of TMS was one short due to a illness etc. and there was a knock at the dressing room door asking if anyone could fill in. As I was 12th man I duly volunteered and from there I started covering a few One-Day county matches just as I was finishing my playing career and just ended up going from there.
Do you still have your Blues Cap and Sweater?
Somewhere, but I can’t guarantee that I do.
Did you every play for the Authentics?
Unfortunately not, I was tossed straight into the Blues was never seconded out to the Tics.
