Bob Willis England Fast Bowling Legend Dies Aged 70
Those bowlers are Sir Ian Botham (383), Stuart Broad (471) and all time leading wicket taker, James Anderson (575). The fact that Willis retired from cricket’s elite format in 1984, a full 35 years ago, and yet his 325 wickets have only been eclipsed 3 times is a huge testament to the stature of the much missed sportsman.
Willis was literally covered in cricketing glory. As the elder statesman of the Expat Sport cricket writers, and an avid cricket fan who in his early thirties, was glued to England’s warhorse of a fast bowler’s finest hours, I’ve been asked to add a line or two. Despite some modicum of bias, proud Yorkshireman that I am, the Headingley Ashes test in 1981, part of a series that England were predicted across the board to lose, and lose badly, remains to me one of those great moments in British sporting history.
However, there is a fellow writer Mark Lavery who in his article, ‘Remembering Bob Willis’ captures the tale so well, therefore permit me to briefly offer a series of brief quotes from Mark, writing in that most respected of regional daily broadsheet and staunchly cricket loving newspapers, the Yorkshire Post:
The Miracle of Headingley ‘81
“They called it “The Miracle of Headingley ‘81” with the odds on an England victory against Australia reaching 500-1.
But then Ian Botham scored 149 not out and Bob Willis took 8 for 43 to lead the hosts to a dramatic 18-run triumph after they had been forced to follow-on in the Leeds Ashes Test.”
“A giant at 6ft 6ins with long curly hair, he [Bob Willis] suffered with injuries and rarely bowled without some sort of pain.
“But Willis was a great trier who captured the nation’s hearts in 1981; he’d almost missed the Headingley Test, in fact, due to a bout of flu only to famously force himself down the hill from the Kirkstall Lane end in near-frenzied fashion to deliver the performance of his life.”
Even, Bob Willis’ lengthy run up; beginning somewhere near the sightscreen, oozed drama. Interestingly enough it is Willis’ own words that bring the whole event to stratospheric life far above cricketing legend:
“People said I was in another world,” he said speaking of that day of days, “in a cocoon of concentration; the modern cliché would be ‘in the zone’. I didn’t want to be distracted by having to set the field or by celebrating wickets; I just wanted to get back to my mark as fast as I could.
“Mike [Brearley, the England captain] said ‘just bowl as fast as you can’ because the pitch was deteriorating and it was pretty unpleasant batting against a fast bowler on that surface.”
A distinguished career in an ever full but sadly foreshortened life
Sunderland-born Willis played 90 Tests and 64 one-day internationals. He plied his bowling trade in county cricket for both Surrey and Warwickshire and captured 899 wickets at an average of 24.99 across all first-class cricket played.
In a statement, Willis’ family said he had died “after a long illness”.
“We are heartbroken to lose our beloved Bob, who was an incredible husband, father, brother and grandfather,” the statement continued.
“He made a huge impact on everybody he knew and we will miss him terribly.”
He is survived by wife Lauren, daughter Katie, his brother David and sister Ann. Outside of the sport the bowlers interests were diverse. A huge fan of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, he even added “Dylan” as his third name by deed poll in the 1960s, to become Robert George Dylan Willis.
Willis’ county career started with a two year spell at Surrey before spending 12 years at Warwickshire where he finished his playing days with those, most definitely worth repeating, magic figures of 899 wickets taken in 308 first-class matches.
He physically captained England in 18 Tests and 29 one-day internationals before his retirement from all forms of cricket in 1984.
In the late 80s, he exchanged Duke ball for microphone, turning his vast cricketing knowledge to the world of commentary and punditry. His long broadcasting career started as a summariser for BBC TV before joining Sky’s cricket team in 1991 and continuing to work with them right up to and including this summer’s Ashes series.
His professionalism in front of the camera married to his acerbic dry wit made him a favourite in the Sky team and it allowed for his ongoing partnership with his most devastating partner in crime, Sir Ian Botham.
The Bob Willis legacy
It comes as no surprise to say that when most people think of Bob Willis, they think of that incredible 1981 Ashes series, forever known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’, but in reality, Willis lays at least equal claim to the moniker. For without his devastating spell in the third Test of that 1981 series, England would have gone down 2-0 in the series and there would be no ‘Botham’s Ashes’ to remember.
England, trailing 1-0 in the series, were forced to follow on and needed Botham’s spectacular 149 not out to force Australia to bat again, setting them 129 to win.
With his Test career on the line, Willis produced a devastating spell, taking that Test-best 8-43 as Australia were miraculously dismissed for 111 – the hosts, rated as rank outsiders by the bookmakers, with, at one point, their odds swinging between 500 and 600-1to win.
And so, England went on to win the series 3-1 and Willis finished with 29 wickets at 22.96 in six matches.
A global flood of accolades for Willis
Plaudits poured in from around the world as the cricketing world mourned the loss of a great player and a great man.
David Gower, who succeeded Willis as England captain, said his former team-mate and commentary colleague had a “burning, bright passion for the game”.
And ex-England fast bowler Darren Gough described Willis as:
“Hugely admired around the world….”
“As a player he had a big heart, he’d run in, nearly 6ft 6ins, and hit the pitch hard. At his peak he was one of the best three bowlers in the world.
“He was hugely admired all around the world. Everybody knew who he was.
“If you just saw him on TV, people might think he’s a bit straight, but in his company over a glass of wine he would make you laugh all night.”
“He was a phenomenal cricketer,” added Simon Hughes, editor of The Cricketer and former Middlesex bowler.
“I still have that image in my head of him running off the ground at Headingley. He was a man on a mission. The passion and desire to win that game was too much for the Australians.”
Sky Sports managing director Rob Webster said:
“Our hearts go out to Bob’s family at such a sad time; we have lost an icon of British sport and a wonderful man.
“A cricketer of fantastic talent, his career was etched with high points and incredible achievements at the highest level. Captaining England and setting a tremendous standard as fast bowler, his game was the stuff of legend and his records will stand the test of time.
“Joining Sky and becoming part of our coverage three decades ago he has made a similar impact on how we have broadcast the game to our viewers. His style and, in particular, his voice will always be remembered fondly. We shall miss him.”
Only three other bowlers in English Test history have surpassed the incredible haul of legendary fast bowler, Bob Willis who sadly passed away on 4th of December 2019.
