Bob Willis... no... another of my hero's gone

[Hobbit]

Sorry but I can't do a RIP. It makes it too real.

I do hope you're sending them down at pace, and whizzing around the ears...

 

[Lazkir]

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Not a great cricket fan but I did like Willis, he was a real sportsman.
Gave his best all of the time.

 

[Piece]

A few more lines are on the Cricket thread.

 

[Tongo]

I'm too young to remember him playing and dont have Sky but I gather he was quite a chippy character not afraid to voice his opinion and not afraid to go against the party line. Sounds like he was my kind of cricketer!

 

[Piece]

I'm too young to remember him playing and dont have Sky but I gather he was quite a chippy character not afraid to voice his opinion and not afraid to go against the party line. Sounds like he was my kind of cricketer!

He was brilliant on the Sky 'Cricket Debate', saying what we say on the Cricket thread.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

oh bloody nora...70...

 

[User20204]

It's rare for a Scot to enjoy cricket but I did and always enjoyed his run in, always seemed a bit unfair that Botham got more credit for that Ashes win than he did, in my memory of it anyway.

 

[Imurg]

It's rare for a Scot to enjoy cricket but I did and always enjoyed his run in, always seemed a bit unfair that Botham got more credit for that Ashes win than he did, in my memory of it anyway.

Yeah, Beefy set 'em up but Willis had to knock 'em down
That last ball is etched on the memory......

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Very sad news indeed. Always enjoyed listening to Bob Willis. RIP big fella.

 

[Don Barzini]

Sad to hear this. The report I read said he died “after a long illness”. I’d seen him on Sky a few times over the summer and thought he didn’t look to good, but just put it down to him getting on in years.

RIP Bob.

 

[AmandaJR]

Very sad news. A real character and great cricketer who gave his all. RIP Bob.

 

[Foxholer]

Very sad news indeed! Not actively followed Cricket very much recently (unless it involves/d NZ), but he was/is one of my all time visual (particularly) and sonic memories of the game. Excellent commentator/summariser, but my 'main' memory is of watching his rather 'flailing' run-up, mop of hair bouncing, eyes totally focused and he seemed to be thinking all the way. The epitome of a fast bowler!

Rip Bob!

 

[2blue]

It's rare for a Scot to enjoy cricket but I did and always enjoyed his run in, always seemed a bit unfair that Botham got more credit for that Ashes win than he did, in my memory of it anyway.

I agree & it's what I keep reminding folk of when they a claim it as 'Botham's Test'.
Botham's brilliant innings kept Eng in the match but it was Willis' wicket taking that won it. At the time, living less than a mile from the ground, & can recall hearing the roar when the last wicket went.
BUT.... just 70... that's sobering, though I raise my glass in his memory...... RIP great man!!

 

[patricks148]

sad news i wondered why he wasn't on the verdict.

RIP Bob

 

[stefanovic]

Sad to hear this. The report I read said he died “after a long illness”. I’d seen him on Sky a few times over the summer and thought he didn’t look to good, but just put it down to him getting on in years.

Prostate cancer, I believe.
As a Warwickshire fan who has also experienced the same illness, then RIP Bob.