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    Default Bob Willis Dies

    After a secret battle with cancer....RIP Bob.



    England’s Headingley hero Bob Willis dies aged 70
    Cricket legend Bob Willis has died at the age of 70. Picture: File

    AFP
    4 minutes ago December 5, 2019
    1 Comment

    Bob Willis, who famously bowled England to a dramatic Test win against Australia in 1981, has died aged 70, his family announced this morning (AEDT).

    Willis played in 90 Tests, taking 325 wickets with his aggressive pace bowling and also captained England for a spell before retiring in 1984 and taking up a career in broadcasting.

    His most famous moment as a player came in the 1981 Ashes series, known as “Botham’s Ashes” for Ian Botham’s devastating displays with bat and ball, when he took 8-43 in a remarkable spell of fast bowling in the third Test at Headingley that changed the course of the series.
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    It is understood that Willis, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago, had begun to deteriorate in health over the past two months, with a recent scan revealing the cancer had advanced.

    “We are heartbroken to lose our beloved Bob, who was an incredible husband, father, brother and grandfather,” said a statement from the Willis family.
    Bob Willis in 1974. Picture: PA/File
    Bob Willis in 1974. Picture: PA/File

    “He made a huge impact on everybody he knew and we will miss him terribly.”

    The England and Wales Cricket Board said it was deeply saddened by Willis’s death, adding: “Cricket has lost a dear friend”.

    “He will always be remembered for his outstanding cricket career … In later years as a broadcaster Bob was a perceptive and respected voice at the microphone,” the ECB said in a statement.

    Star all-rounder Botham previously described his teammate as a “tremendous trier, a great team man and an inspiration — the only world-class fast bowler in my time as an England player”.

    Genuine pace

    Willis, who is fourth on the all-time list of England Test wicket-takers behind James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Botham, started his first-class career with Surrey before moving to Warwickshire, where he spent the bulk of his career.

    Surrey said they were “devastated” to learn of the bowler’s death while Warwickshire tweeted their condolences.

    Incredibly sad to hear the news about Bob Willis. He was a true great, generous in sharing his knowledge about the game and a lovely man. RIP Bob x pic.twitter.com/HYJbLlQJRZ
    — James Anderson (@jimmy9) December 4, 2019

    Former England captain David Gower, who played with Willis and was a colleague of his at Sky Sports, described him as “a very loyal friend and a loyal supporter”.

    “I toured with him as a captain and I took over the captaincy from him and then had him as what was called in those days as an assistant manager,” he told BBC Radio. “He was a very loyal friend and a loyal supporter.

    “Without going into too much unseemly detail, it was an era where you were allowed to have more fun than you are possibly today. Various tours Down Under were colourful, let’s put it that way.” Willis made his international debut aged 21 in the 1971 Ashes in Australia. With his great mop of brown curls, he struck fear into batsmen, demonstrating great resilience to come back from surgery on both knees in 1975.

    Gutted to hear the news of Bob Willis passing. A lovely person with a great humour who was so proud of England cricket. Legend. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏 pic.twitter.com/g4AQcnRK4n
    — Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) December 4, 2019

    The bowler, who stood at 1.98 metres (six feet, six inches), was a rare genuine paceman for England at a time when Australian and West Indies quicks dominated the Test arena.

    He skippered England in 18 Tests and 29 one-day internationals before his retirement from all cricket in 1984, having taken 899 first-class wickets.

    Last year the ECB named him in its greatest-ever Test side, hailing him as “an indefatigable and aggressive fast bowler”.

    Saddened to hear that Bob Willis has died. One of our greatest fast bowlers. Met him on many occasions and he was always great company with a sense of humour that was as sharp as his bowling. #RIPBob
    — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 4, 2019

    His Headingley heroics will be forever etched into the memories of English cricket fans.

    England, trailing 1-0 in the six-match series, were staring at a humiliating defeat after being forced to follow on, before Botham’s spectacular 149 not out gave them a glimmer of hope.

    Australia, chasing just 130 to win, looked on course for victory at 56-1 but Willis then went on the rampage, taking eight wickets as the tourists collapsed to 111 all out.

    England went on to win the series 3-1 and Willis finished with 29 wickets at 22.96 in six matches.

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    Five great Bob Willis performances

    • 8-43 v Australia Third Test at Headingley, 1981 — The most memorable spell of Willis’ career came in the famous third Ashes match in 1981 as a side following on won a Test for only the second time. Ian Botham hammered a memorable 149 not out as England, trailing 1-0 in the six-Test series, managed to set Australia 130 to win on the final day. Willis charged in for 15.1 overs as first change, taking his best figures in international cricket. He bowled Ray Bright to secure an incredible 18-run victory, before England went on to win the series 3-1.

    What a truly great pic this is of Bob Willis at the end of the 1981 Headingley test. #bobwillis pic.twitter.com/tNzOCxKvTJ
    — tim (@theseaside100) December 4, 2019

    • 5-42 v West Indies Fourth Test at Headingley, 1976 — Willis was brought back into the England team after injury problems with the hosts trailing the mighty West Indies 1-0 with two matches to play. He had by 1976 undergone surgery on both of his troublesome knees, but proved he still had a future in Test cricket by claiming five wickets in the Windies second innings to keep England’s hopes in the series alive. His efforts were in vain, however, as the home side fell 56 runs short in a chase of 260.

    • 5-27 v India Second Test at Eden Gardens, 1977 — Willis inspired England to a brilliant 10-wicket victory over India in Calcutta in January 1977, which remained their only win at Eden Gardens until Alastair Cook’s team repeated the feat in 2012. In front of a massive crowd, Willis defied the spin-friendly conditions to help bowl the Indians out for 155 in the first innings. England went on to seal a 3-1 series triumph.

    As we morosley watched Bob Willis tear through the Indian 1st innings on New Year's Day 1977 with 5 for 27 at Eden Gardens, spectator near me cracked a weak joke: "he runs in like a Willys Jeep." No one laughed! pic.twitter.com/WzMiYofWHS
    — Gulu Ezekiel (@gulu1959) December 4, 2019

    • 7-78 v Australia First Test at Lord’s, 1977 — England’s dominant success against an Australian side severely depleted by Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in 1977 opened with a draw at Lord’s. The hosts were surprisingly bowled out for only 216 in their first innings, but Willis hit back by taking seven wickets from 30.1 overs to keep the Aussies to 296. Willis ended the series as the leading wicket-taker with 27 scalps as England won 3-0.

    • 5-65 v West Indies First Test at Trent Bridge, 1980 — In another blistering spell against the Windies in a losing cause, Willis took 5-65 but was not supported enough to prevent England slipping to a two-wicket loss in Nottingham. He claimed nine wickets in the match, but Desmond Haynes’ 62 helped the Caribbean outfit over the line. The final four Tests were drawn as the Windies edged the series 1-0.

    AFP
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