I was up in London on a school trip during Headingley 1981. Standard had "8 for 43" screaming out from its pages. As a kid I used to 'be' Bob Willis when practicing my bowling. He's left some great memories.
Rest in peace. Your innings was over way too early.
It's easy to forget what a great fast bowler he was for England, when he had none of the workload protection that Broad and Anderson have got. 325 wickets at 25
This news stopped me in my tracks today, I'm a bit too young to remember him clearly playing however his voice and analysis has been with me throughout.
The world is a bit less knowledgeable and good today. Rest in peace Mr Willis
Jeff Snelling on SSN stated that Bob suffered from Prostate Cancer for 3 years and that is why he and the other football pundits wear the Prostate Cancer badges on their jackets
Got his book out of the library once 'Fast bowling with Bob Willis' - which really set me up on the path as a young cricketer.
It was full of tips and fitness work for a young fast bowler, one thing that really stood out was that he talked to Ian Chappell after his first Ashes series, who revealed to him that the Aussies called him 'After lunch Willis', as they would play him respectfully in the first session, and then tuck into him as a very young big Bob faded after lunch in the searing heat.
Bob said that it was a lesson he never forgot, and he ensured that his fitness was always a main priority for him throughout his career, which went on well into his thirties.
RIP bustling Bob, never be another quite like you.
Still shocked about this. Watched him as a yougster for Surrey and knew he had a great future so was sad when he left, not wanting to play second fiddle to Arnold and Jackman. Saw him many times at the Oval thereafter, both as a top bowler for England and later just wandering about the pavilion between commentary stints.
That test at Headingley will live with me till the day I die . Myself and 10 year old mate weren’t allowed to move for the whole Aussie innings breaks apart because we’d found our lucky spot . I fell in love with Bob there and then and when I took the family to the Melbourne Test two years ago met him in the lounge where he did a lunchtime chat and had a couple of photos with my kids, I welled up afterwards. Also bumped into him at Heathrow airport on the way home after the Sydney Test a little nod to and from each other , me recognising him , him not having a clue who I was !
He was at Edgbaston this summer at a pre Ashes Lords Taverners dinner and I paid for my eldest to have a pic with some Ashes legends, see below . RIP Bob Bob Bob Bob
Great fast bowler, great analyst and a great person. The 1981 Headingly test was possibly the best of all time from an England point of view. There aren't many bowling figures that stick in the head but 8-43 always will. Listening to it on the radio. Couldn't get back to work it was so exciting!
I was sat in Wetherspoon's yesterday wondering why they kept showing clips of Headingley on TV. Then I realised why. Really shocked, I remember that test like it was yesterday. RIP Bob.
I was really shocked to hear of his passing. I was travelling out to where I was in 1981 and mentioned the Headingly test only a few hours before finding out. Last saw Bob on the Debate what seems like only a few weeks ago, so more shocking/ Much like my childhood Kent hero Graham Dilley when he went
Comments
Rest in peace. Your innings was over way too early.
The world is a bit less knowledgeable and good today. Rest in peace Mr Willis
For some reason this feels shockingly close to home.
RIP
R.I.P.
RIP Thanks Bob
It was full of tips and fitness work for a young fast bowler, one thing that really stood out was that he talked to Ian Chappell after his first Ashes series, who revealed to him that the Aussies called him 'After lunch Willis', as they would play him respectfully in the first session, and then tuck into him as a very young big Bob faded after lunch in the searing heat.
Bob said that it was a lesson he never forgot, and he ensured that his fitness was always a main priority for him throughout his career, which went on well into his thirties.
RIP bustling Bob, never be another quite like you.
Myself and 10 year old mate weren’t allowed to move for the whole Aussie innings breaks apart because we’d found our lucky spot .
I fell in love with Bob there and then and when I took the family to the Melbourne Test two years ago met him in the lounge where he did a lunchtime chat and had a couple of photos with my kids, I welled up afterwards.
Also bumped into him at Heathrow airport on the way home after the Sydney Test a little nod to and from each other , me recognising him , him not having a clue who I was !
RIP Bob Bob Bob Bob
Rest in peace and rise in glory.
The 1981 Headingly test was possibly the best of all time from an England point of view. There aren't many bowling figures that stick in the head but 8-43 always will. Listening to it on the radio. Couldn't get back to work it was so exciting!