One of England's greatest ever fast bowlers, Willis will be remembered as a brilliant cricketer and an accomplished broadcaster
Bob Willis rarely bowled without pain after undergoing surgery on both knees in 1975. In his own words, the operations were akin to a 50,000-mile service. And yet, for nine years after that, he ran in for England, bounding to the crease off his famously long run. Few, perhaps, have represented this nation with such courage.
When he eventually quit the sport – immediately after defeat against West Indies at Leeds in 1984, he did so having taken 325 Test wickets. There was a poetic irony to the final throes of a distinguished international career coming at the location of his finest hour.
At the time of his retirement, only Dennis Lillee had claimed more Test scalps. More than three decades on, just three Englishmen have surpassed his feat: Ian Botham, James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
A captain of the national team on 46 occasions across two formats, a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1978, half of one of English sport’s most remarkable victories. Latterly, an accomplished broadcaster, forthright in his viewpoints but respected by those who mattered most.
Robert George Dylan Willis, he had added the third of his forenames after falling for the music of Bob Dylan. He was awarded an MBE for his services to the game and forever remained a man admired by those around him. He resisted the temptations of Kerry Packer’s World Series – for which he was lauded by Wisden – and he was never anything other than deeply patriotic from the moment he was handed a surprise Test debut in 1971.
Not a master tactician as skipper in the manner of Mike Brearley, he still possessed an ability to motivate those around him. In 18 Tests in charge, he oversaw seven wins, five draws and six losses.
Bob Willis has died at the age of 70
“The only world-class fast bowler in my time as an England player,” Botham once said of his long-time international teammate and Sky Sports colleague.
Willis, in some ways, was an unlikely fast bowler; beyond an enormous 6ft 6in frame, he was not necessarily a typical athlete. But his long gallop to the crease, combined with his steepling height and aggression, created a proposition who would be feared all over the world.
Australia’s Kim Hughes fell victim to Willis on 11 separate occasions in their Ashes battles, while he took the wickets of Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell nine times each. Sunil Gavaskar was dismissed by the former Surrey and Warwickshire bowler in five innings; so too were Ian Chappell, Gordon Greenidge and Ravi Shastri.
An untouchable operator, he dismissed the very best. It was, perhaps, on the tour of India in 1976/77 that he asserted himself among the very top band. Across the entire trip, he took 32 wickets at 15.09, moving past 400 in first-class cricket in the process.
In the pantheon of England’s great seamers, Willis stands out on his own in many respects. When Wisden paid tribute to the Sunderland-born fast bowler as he slipped into retirement, it noted a longevity that, given his various ailments, represented an astounding return.
On “those tortured, pumping knees” – as Wisden described them at the end of his playing career, he delivered 17,357 balls in Test cricket, 47,990 across all first-class cricket. A victory for mind over matter, for staunch determination and, as his career wore on, for his use of hypnotherapy.
Wisden also highlighted his status as something of a lone wolf. Where Harold Larwood had Bill Voce and Fred Trueman came paired with Brian Statham, Willis did not always have a natural complementary partner. Broad and Anderson, of course, have since forged a fine duo of their own as well.
When Willis did have Botham, however, they wreaked havoc. Their double-act shared 476 Test wickets in just 105 innings, coming to a head on the English game’s greatest day.
Enthusiastic hyperbole is among the characteristics of modern society, and the remarkable cricketing summer of 2019 provided more than its fair share of special moments. There exists a tendency to favour the recent past and cast aside times gone by. Yet, there are few who witnessed the miracle of Headingley in 1981 who would willingly hand over the crown of the national side’s most extraordinary afternoon. Not even to Ben Stokes. For, at the same ground, Willis had pulled off a heist similar in its absurdity.
Willis was a fearsome seam bowler and accomplished broadcaster
And yet, Willis was not even the man of the match; that was reserved for Botham, whose unbeaten 149 had dragged England back into an Ashes contest that had appeared well beyond the hosts. Australia were 56 for 1, chasing a target of just 130. Cue mayhem. What followed was described by that year’s Wisden Almanack as “staggering”.
“Willis, having changed ends to bowl with the wind, dismissed Chappell with a rearing delivery and the staggering turnabout was under way,” it reported.
“Willis bowled as if inspired. It is not uncommon to see him perform for England as if his very life depended on it, but this was something unique. In all, he took eight wickets for 43, the best of his career, as Australia's last nine wickets tumbled for 55 runs despite a stand of 35 in four overs between Bright and Lillee.
“(Chris) Old bowled straight and aggressively and England rose to the need to produce an outstanding show in the field. Yet this was Willis's hour, watched or listened to by a vast invisible audience.”
There were numerous other individual triumphs: 7-78 against Australia at Lord’s, where he took 47 Test wickets at 18.76; 6-53 against India at Bengaluru; 5-27 against India at Kolkata; 5-32 against New Zealand at Wellington. And there were more like those.
It is true that he never bettered Headingley, though what could he plausibly have achieved to outdo it? A performance for the ages that, even 38 years on, remains etched in the minds of all those who love the nation’s summer game.
They were not even his best figures in first-class cricket; those came during his Warwickshire days, whom he had joined in search of the county cap that had proven elusive at Surrey. In 1977, he took 8-32 against Gloucestershire. Overall in first-class cricket, he ended one wicket short of the 900 mark, while his average sat at 24.99.
In his post-playing days, he became a staple in the punditry world. He was not always universally popular as he rekindled his partnership with Botham behind the microphone; his style did not suit everyone.
As the years went on, though, he found himself a role in a more analytical, summarising role. His dry wit became infamous and occasionally his sharp rants drifted towards being comedic. But his knowhow and knowledge of the game were never in doubt, and nor was his commitment to English cricket.
In 2015, he delivered a pep talk to Alastair Cook’s England side ahead of the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, where Broad then took figures of 8-15. After giving his message, he took the squad’s bowlers out for dinner. “Lovely man, great company and good fun,” was Broad’s verdict on an evening in Willis’ company.
“Imran Khan was right when he said you can’t bowl fast every day of the week,” Willis once admitted. “I was certainly guilty of saving my best for England.”
He represented his country like few others. A hero of 90 Tests and 64 ODIs. Among the finest ever produced on these shores, was Robert George Dylan Willis.
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Posted by Tony Head on 06/12/2019 at 22:49
RIP to a true legend. 🏏
Posted by Chris Groves on 06/12/2019 at 22:00
Total and utter shock to read that Big Bob has gone. Have followed England's test team for over 47 years and no one ever came close to equalling him as England's best "out and out" fast bowler. To have lasted in that role for as long as he did after his 1975 surgery, was a testament to his great courage and patriotism. In an era before central contracts the latter characteristic, saw him turn down two lucrative opportunities (Packer and South African Breweries) to stay loyal to England and Warwickshire. They say you should never meet your heroes, but his charm and wit was evident when meeting him as a tongue-tied fan many years later in his early days with Sky. A gent and legend who left us far too soon! Thoughts with his family and friends. RIP.
Posted by Marc Evans on 06/12/2019 at 13:29
As a Warwickshire supporter the frustrating thing about Bob was he seemed either injured or on test call most of the time, but he did manage to caplain us to the John Player league title, with a less than World beating side, just before his Headingly exploits and played in almost all of those games. Bowling off his short run he could still be a match winner. I'm not sure how he got away with targeting certain players for his critical attention, most noticeably Craig White and Keaton Jennings. In this PC age he was almost slanderous, yet you never felt there was anything arch about him, they were just his honest opinions. Though not renowned for his sense of humour it always came through with bat in hand, where he never pretended to be anything other than a traditional rabbit and frequently played to the crowd. There are some great pictures of him limbering up before a match with Bernard Thomas, the England physio, a small man, who let Willis put his leg up on his shoulder whilst flexing his back. Overall I will most remember him for that awkward lumbering run, where he always seemed to be trying to find a rythmn as he ran uphill before exploding into that whirlwind action and then commencing his World weary trudge back to his mark. He was certainly a character and you always felt his own man in an increasingly corporate age.
Posted by David Battersby on 06/12/2019 at 12:49
Bob was a legend. He was so kind enough to write the foreword to my book 'In The Shadow of Packer' which was a thrill for me as growing up he was my hero. Back in 1977 I was lucky enough - in the school holidays as 13 year old - to head over the bridge to watch him in action at Bristol. He destroyed Gloucestershire taking three wickets to wrap up the innings and finish with a career best 8 for 32. Later that day he took three top order wickets when Glos batted for a second time. Nothing will ever beat Bob at Headingley in '81, for me the greatest bowling performance ever. RP Bob.
Posted by Bill Clay on 06/12/2019 at 11:32
Warts and all but better that than undeserved praise just because. . . Farewell Bob and thanks for the memories.
Posted by saradindu sengupta on 05/12/2019 at 16:11
I am utterly shocked at the Great man’s demise . Bob Willis was the greatest fast bowler whose long run up and final delivery from that great height instilled fear into one and all over the world . RIP Bob Willis
Posted by Neil Aspey on 05/12/2019 at 11:23
Sad day for the country and the game of cricket to lose such a great sporting hero. As a kid I loved watching Bob charge in with his unusual action and can still remember all of us as kids trying to be Bob skittling the Aussies out. A great man RIP Bob
Posted by Michael A. Harrington on 05/12/2019 at 09:57
A true great of the game, a true fast bowling star that England cricket will always recall with a smile, and will certainly miss for his honesty from the commentary box and tv studio alike. Time to change ends Robert, and well dine indeed.
Posted by Iain Davidson on 05/12/2019 at 08:22
What a very sad day in the history of cricket, such a memorable run up, such a big heart, the times really are a changing. One postscript on that day in Headingley an often forgotten batsman who was a foil for Bothams knock was Graham Dilley whose half century added to the total another Headingley hero taken too early!
Posted by Iain Davidson on 05/12/2019 at 08:16
What a very sad day in the history of cricket, such a memorable run up, such a big heart, the times really are a changing. One postscript, another of the hero’s of Headingly that day was an unlikely batsman whose knock with Botham is never mentioned was Graham Dilleys another taken even earlier!
Posted by Phil Doyle on 05/12/2019 at 06:58
Never been a big cricket fan, but loved his term within the England cricket team. His passion and energy was always clearly evident. A non assuming man but a massive influence on the England team I watched as a young teenager. A lovely man in every respect. Rest in Peace big fella x
Posted by Pat ramamurthy on 05/12/2019 at 04:13
RIP💐🌹 ROBERT GEORGE" DYLAN" WILLIS-England Captain,Fastbowler -Eternal grim trier-ran in all his life zealously for England ,Bowled his heart and knees and his whole body out for the 3 Lions and the Crown on his English Shirt! An acerbic straight talking Comnentator,a bowlers equivalent of" Geoffiery Boycott ",he was an individual first and last . A big man with a bigger ticker!💪 P.S. Rest assured he will be" running in ...🌹💐
Posted by Denis Bundh on 04/12/2019 at 23:58
Privileged to have met and spoken with Bob Willis, he was a quite lovely man. I was also privileged to manage the late great Malcolm Marshall who held Bob in great regard...enough said. RIP R.G.D Willis