Rip Bob Willis, another blue gone.

Very sad re the premature death of Bob. Loved listening to him on the cricket debate where he didn’t care what he said. Funny story told by Michael Atherton in that he came out into the middle as a number 11 and forgot his bat.
 
RIP blue, one of the few 'proper' cricketers from my youth as others have mentioned '81 was him & Botham but as he was unassuming off the pitch and didn't have the looks it became all about beefy in the media.
 
Willis not the most stylish of bowlers. Especially in his young days, his run up was very quirky and jerky, but he was a real competitor with great determination. During his great spell at Headingley, his expression hardly changed even when his team mates were jumping all over him. He just stalked back to his mark, turned, and with a dead eyed stare targetted the next man in.
 
Never knew he was a City fan. Loved him on the debate show post close of play on Sky. As England stumbled through yet another shambolic collapse the thought of him coming in off his long run later that night always brought a smile.
 
Sad news indeed. For those of us cricket fans of a certain vintage he was right up there as one of the stars of the England team with his most memorable 8-43 at Headingley in the famous 81 Ashes series. I went to the Test at the real Old Trafford that series and remember him getting 3 wickets in an over to rip through the Aussies top order then too.

But more important than that was that he was clearly regarded as a very decent human being and all round lovely guy. And a Blue, it took me years to realise. RIP Bob.
 
Sad news never forget him steaming down the hill at Headingley in 81 particular the last wicket when he sent the middle stump cartwheeling. Other than that strangely enough the other memory of him that stood out was with the bat sharing a marathon stand with Peter Willey. Looked it up on cricinfo and in the 4th test in 1980 with England 92/9 he batted for 3 hours against Marshall, Garner, Holding and Croft. Looking at that scorecard however and given the same situation today can't help thinking Bob would have been coming in off the long run up on the verdict that night. 1 nil down in the series and with a lead of 105 on 1st innings you'd better off having a quick onslaught and set the Windies 220-230 and at least try to force a result he would/might have said. RIP big man
 
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