RIP Graham Dilley

[Gwylan]

One of the supporting cast for the Ian Botham show at Headingley in 1981

Good bowler has died shockingly young - 52, younger than I am

 

[Beach Hut]

RIP, very early age to die

 

[Gritt23]

Oh my GOD, what happened to him?

Gutted.

 

[Simster]

Bloody hell. RIP Dilley.

He scored a 50 in that Headingly match I think, while ITBotham was making his 149*

 

[Simster]

Dilley appeared in his first Test match, and acquitted himself reasonably well, taking three wickets and scoring a handy unbeaten 38 in the first innings. The game is perhaps better remembered, however, for a chance occurrence on the second-innings scorecard, as follows

Lillee - c. Willey, b. Dilley 19.

 

[empire]

R.i.p.,who doesnt remember the golden years,he played a big part in it,esp 80/81

 

[Nottseagull]

died shockingly young - 52, younger than I am

Me too (just). Why are only a fraction of people who die in their 50s women?

 

[The Large One]

Graham Dilley 52 - out too cheaply.

 

[bhafc99]

I still remember watching that day at Headingley as a 13 year old. Amazing stuff. RIP Graham.

 

[Pavilionaire]

This is sad news. 138 test wickets at 29.78 apiece. Cricinfo reports that despite that record he finished on the winning side in only 2 of 41 test appearances! (Headingley 81 and Brisbane 86/87)

 

[KZNSeagull]

Hugely sad news.

I remember Botham told him just to give it a swish for a couple of overs to see what happens and he ended up getting 50 odd. I also remember he had to tape the toe of his boots up as his bowling style ripped the sole of the boot away.

 

[Nottseagull]

That quote from Simster reminds me of the commentator who quite innocently stated "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey."

 

[Kumquat]

Sad sad news, one of my heroes as a kid. My Dad used to laught that I liked hime. He always called him "two to Dilley" in honour of his shocking fielding. But a great bowler and of course that Headingly 50 was his moment. I heard Botham said to him "Just bash it. There's a pint with my name on waiting for me".

As for the batsmans holding, the bowlers willey, wasn't that Brian Johnson and very much not "innocent"?

 

[piersa]

not a good innings. Good memories though

 

[paulie]

I still remember watching that day at Headingley as a 13 year old. Amazing stuff. RIP Graham.

Me too, I was 14 and made a German exchange student staying at ours watch it for 2 days solid.

RIP, far too young.

 

[Shanker45]

Really shocked by this.Grew up in Kent and used to watch the great man in action. RIP

 

[public school boy]

Very sad.

 

[Storer 68]

That quote from Simster reminds me of the commentator who quite innocently stated "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey."

no record of that exists. Brian Johnston was adamant that he never said it...................................

did peter willey ever bowl to michael holding in a test match?

 

[The Mole]

And famously had Dennis Lillee caught by Peter Willey off his bowling!

Very sad to hear of his death at 52.

 

[Gritt23]

It was an amazing knock he had at Headingley that day. In many ways it was more amazing than Bothams.