[Cricket] RIP Bob Willis

[Questions]

I remember Viv Richards getting to 50 and taking every run off Willis alone....
They had had a spat in the papers.

 

[Pavilionaire]

This is very sad news, all the more so because he was very much a part of the post-match analysis on Sky and stil relevant. I know his voice was monotone but he didn't mince his words, he spoke his mind and I enjoyed listening to him.

For me growing up it was Botham and Willis, Boycott and Gower - part of my youth.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Great bowler, great record and brilliant attitude, like many of the Aussie quickies in many respects. Recall seeing him at Hove with a run starting almost from the boundary at the olad Gilligan stand.

Remember that long run-up so well.
Was in the pavillion at Hove when Bob was young and playing for Surrey. As he came in after a long and hot session out in the field, he was stopped by an old member, as he came up the steps. " You were at Royal Grammar School, Guildford weren't you? " asked the old boy. " Yes " said Bob, keen to get to the dressing room. Unfazed by Bob's clear irritation, he carried on..." I was there from 1920 to 1927 "...." What years were you there? "...Bob was already on the move again, fearing he could spend the rest of his life there and replied, over his shoulder...." a little after that ".
RIP.

 

[LlcoolJ]

He was my favourite pundit on any sport on any channel. I loved listening to him. I have to confess one of my guilty pleasures in life was The Verdict after England had endured a bad day. Many a time I’d sit at work and see England were 30-3 and think to myself that I better not miss Bob that evening. The value of my Sky subscription decreased today.

100% this. I remember using the Wifi in a bar in Bulgaria to set my Sky box to record The Verdict so I could watch it once we got home (actually after an Ashes win rather than a defeat, still quite sad though!).

Had heard he was ill but was genuinely shocked when my son sent me the news yesterday.

Joe Root's impression of him in the England dressing room (and Bob's reaction) will stay in the memory forever.

https://twitter.com/phoney_1/status/629979417490624512

RIP Bob, you will be missed.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

In the parks his run up was copied by every kid who played cricket at he time.

 

[Pinkie Brown]

Came across as deadpan & monotone but his sense of humour was extremely droll & dry. His knowledgeable insights into the game will be sadly missed. He gave the impression of not suffering fools easily. As a teen I first witnessed him in action at the Basin Reserve in Wellington where he took five second innings wickets leaving England with a modest run chase. As is tradition, England collapsed to 60 or so all out. Some things never change.

 

[A1X]

The next England batting collapse won't be quite the same without the prospect of a "Welll Chaarles" following not long afterwards.

Seen many stories emerge about him during the last day or so, this was my favourite;

[TWEET]1202263458848358404[/TWEET]

 

[LamieRobertson]

https://twitter.com/prostateuk/status/1362793404795674629?s=21

 

[big nuts]

I miss Bob. Can’t believe it’s been 14 months already since his death.

 

[pasty]

I would have loved to hear his views on the umpiring and the state of the pitch in this match!