The passing of the greats from my teenage years are rapidly moving on ......Brian Close photographed after facing Wes Hall Charlie Griffith etc shirt off, chest all covered in bruises.......'just a scratch' he probably said.
What is it they used to say? 'You knew the summer had started when you heard the thud of leather on Brian Close's body'. Tough man and no mean cricketer.
Think it was Wes Hall to whom he advanced half way down to the pitch half way through his run up from almost the boundary rope (no helmet in those days) bat primed as much to say 'come on then lets have it'. Wes pulled up rather sharpish in full flow and started holding his back in pain! They don't make em like Mr Close anymore. RIP
The passing of the greats from my teenage years are rapidly moving on ......Brian Close photographed after facing Wes Hall Charlie Griffith etc shirt off, chest all covered in bruises.......'just a scratch' he probably said.
my main 'Close memory; is of the Oval 1963 v Windies .. as you write, Hall & Griffith as well as Sobers and Lance Gibbs .. I had hopped the wag from school and ended up sitting amongst the Windies fans in my school tie and blazer .. the fans kept giving me salt fish sandwiches and beer, first time I got a little bit drunk, I was 13 at the time .. anyway .. Close, no jumper, shirtsleeves rolled to the elbow, shirt open to the waist, not even a cap, facing the fearsome attack .. can't remember how many he scored, it wasn't many, every one was earned with luck, blood sweat and no tears .. the Windies fans gave him terrible stick, BUT it was 'banter' shouted with respect, admiration and affection .. a great memory of a very brave and committed sportsman ..
I also hopped off school for a couple more days of the test .. Later, Basil Butcher (a forgotten master batsman), Conrad Hunte and Sobers whacked Close's mediocre off spin all over the Oval turf .. 'clooose, cloooose .. give up mon' chanted the Windies fans .. great days that will not come around again, for me at least ((:>)
Like Lincs above I remember that 1963 series against the West Indies. I was also at Lords in 1976 on a darkish afternoon/evening when Holding et al gave a 45 year old Close and a slightly less venerable John edrich a going over.
Like Lincs above I remember that 1963 series against the West Indies. I was also at Lords in 1976 on a darkish afternoon/evening when Holding et al gave a 45 year old Close and a slightly less venerable John edrich a going over.
He stood up to it just as he had 13 years before.
RIP.
If any of our batsmen ever want to know what it takes to face fast bowling without protection they only have to watch this:
Like Lincs above I remember that 1963 series against the West Indies. I was also at Lords in 1976 on a darkish afternoon/evening when Holding et al gave a 45 year old Close and a slightly less venerable John edrich a going over.
He stood up to it just as he had 13 years before.
RIP.
Yes, I remember Close's England comeback, along I think with David Steele being called up, to face the fiercsome attacks, that our other batsman could not face.
I remember Close, chesting the ball away. The bravest cricketer I've ever seen and ever will.
Probably the toughest cricketer I ever saw, like a few on here I remember him being used for target practice by the Windies in 1976...he got hit by a succession of cannonballs from Roberts, Holding et al, and Richie Benaud drily observed "He won't rub that".
there are some great anectdotes from his playing days and his skippering ...cant remember seeing/reading an autobiography but it would be a great read as his career spanned such a long period
there are some great anectdotes from his playing days and his skippering ...cant remember seeing/reading an autobiography but it would be a great read as his career spanned such a long period
I remeber him playing for Yorkshire in the late 60`s and seemed the bain of Kent. One of those plays you felt never got out.That recall to England in 1976 was amazing and we are talking real bravery, unfortunately he could not save enland from a hammering. But cricket seemed great in those days.
In a game between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, Martin Young was caught at slip by Phil Sharpe after it ricocheted off Brian Close’s forehead. Close was at short-leg, and as he was hit, he shouted, “Catch it!” When his team-mates enquired what would have happened had it hit him a little lower, Close said, “He’d have been caught in t’gully.”.
A man and character from the cricket era I loved. Fantastic games back then, used to watch those legends ( Edrich Graveney Illingworth et al) on an old black and white TV sitting next to my grandad. He'd be telling me about Sir Jack Hobbs who he used to watch at Oval many years before. Happy memories, how nice it would be to go back and spend an afternoon doing that again. RIP Brian Close
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RIP
RIP
I also hopped off school for a couple more days of the test .. Later, Basil Butcher (a forgotten master batsman), Conrad Hunte and Sobers whacked Close's mediocre off spin all over the Oval turf .. 'clooose, cloooose .. give up mon' chanted the Windies fans .. great days that will not come around again, for me at least ((:>)
Fred Lucas, Ron Springett and now Closey.
Like Lincs above I remember that 1963 series against the West Indies. I was also at Lords in 1976 on a darkish afternoon/evening when Holding et al gave a 45 year old Close and a slightly less venerable John edrich a going over.
He stood up to it just as he had 13 years before.
RIP.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=60GAhXvU90k&feature=youtu.be
RIP Closey
I remember Close, chesting the ball away. The bravest cricketer I've ever seen and ever will.
RIP.
RIP
It's hard to believe someone as tough as you can actually pass away, they don't make them like you anymore
If by some mis-chance he's gone "downstairs", Old Nick is in for one heck of a beating.
RIP Brian Close, a real England cricket legend.
a BBC link to Holding v Close for those who cannot access youtube at work.
Unthinkable today to think how they faced that barrage without helmets, arm guards etc?
(although notice he had a plaster on his elbow the wimp)
also how on the mark were those bouncers - great bowling.
In a game between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, Martin Young was caught at slip by Phil Sharpe after it ricocheted off Brian Close’s forehead. Close was at short-leg, and as he was hit, he shouted, “Catch it!” When his team-mates enquired what would have happened had it hit him a little lower, Close said, “He’d have been caught in t’gully.”.
RIP Mr Close
Fantastic games back then, used to watch those legends ( Edrich Graveney Illingworth et al) on an old black and white TV sitting next to my grandad. He'd be telling me about Sir Jack Hobbs who he used to watch at Oval many years before.
Happy memories, how nice it would be to go back and spend an afternoon doing that again.
RIP Brian Close