Brian Close RIP

Hobbit

Hobbit

Mordorator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 11, 2011
Messages
19,973
Location
Espana
Visit site
Now there was a great sportsman. And I well remember his return to the England team, to face the West Indies pace attack, in 1976 at age 45. Holding gave him a right battering but Close didn't shirk, taking body blows yet still hooking Holding for a 6. Yorkshire's best Captain, he also captained England on 7 occasions, winning 6 and drawing 1.

And what a Yorkshire team back then. Boycott, Trueman & Illingworth.
 
Hobbit said:
Now there was a great sportsman. And I well remember his return to the England team, to face the West Indies pace attack, in 1976 at age 45. Holding gave him a right battering but Close didn't shirk, taking body blows yet still hooking Holding for a 6. Yorkshire's best Captain, he also captained England on 7 occasions, winning 6 and drawing 1.

And what a Yorkshire team back then. Boycott, Trueman & Illingworth.
Click to expand...
I was at the Test match at Old Trafford, when he and John Edrich took a right pounding. Holding was so quick you couldn't follow the ball, you just heard the ball smack into the keepers gloves or into Close's body.:eek:
 
When I was at Somerset Academy he used to regularly come in - he was wonderful to listen to and gave great advice. Was superb for Bangers
 
image_20130710134319.jpg


Bravest man to play Test cricket. Facing the most dangerous bowling attack of all-time, and he stood up to them like a man. Coming back into the Test side after a 9 year absence aged 45 to face Holding, Roberts and Daniel at their most dangerous and quickest is a hell of an effort. Played the short stuff superbly though, and watching that footage should be a good lesson for young players. He's facing some of the quickest bowling of all-time, and never takes his eyes off the ball. The ball whizzes past his nose, but he never takes his eyes off it. Great stuff, and he will always be remembered.
 
I'd never heard of the guy until yesterday when I watched some footage of him facing up to the bowling mentioned.

Bloody hell! There's a guy that didn't want to lose. Incredible to watch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top