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Bob Willis RIP
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What a great competitor and what a great bowler. I suddenly feel very old. RIP Bob.0
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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.3 -
And ludicrously long run ups to boot.killerandflash said:RIP
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 250 -
R.I.P Bob he was on the same tube carriage as we was once0
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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 Willis2 -
Will never forget that Headingly test - highlight of a lifetime.
For some reason this feels shockingly close to home.
RIP2 -
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 jackets3
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Very sad.
R.I.P.0 -
Hero.1
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Was shocked when I heard.
RIP Thanks Bob0 - Sponsored links:
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RIP0
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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.5 -
Very sad to read of Bob Willis’ passing. I remember seeing him in Wellington. Can anyone remember a bowler with a longer run-up0
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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.RIP RGD Willis1
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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
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RIP Bob - a sporting giant. Cancer is a bastard.
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Headingley 1981 was as much his test match as it was Botham's. True sporting hero unlike many latter-day pretenders (e.g. Beckham).
Rest in peace and rise in glory.0 -
It’s surprising which ones of the these affect you; I’m really sad about this . RIP- had no idea he’d been so ill.0
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RIP Bob. Sad and shocked.0
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Sad news - a great character.0
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It would be good to see a tribute to him put up. I think he was one of those special icons of British sport.0
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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!0 -
A real legend of the game. RIP Sir.0
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RIP Bob
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Very sad, no age these days. R.I.P. Bob1
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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.1
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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 went1
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"Well, Charles - the Bob Willis Story" is now available on Sky On Demand1
