Heroes: Bob Willis

The sight of Robert George Dylan Willis tearing into the crease with his gangly frame, crazy curly locks and distinctive delivery action brings back many happy memories of our childhood.

No more so when on that famous Tuesday at Headingley in 1981 he ripped through Australia to take eight for 43 as England completed their most amazing test match victory. It must have rankled with Willis that nearly all the plaudits went to Ian Botham, but if it did he has kept his own counsel since.

Even as an impressionable young boy we could see that Willis gave absolutely everything when he bowled and given the constant pain he played through as a result of operations on both knees in 1975 that is exactly what he did.

Perhaps that is why he is our favourite Sky commentator, where his acid tongue and caustic wit shine like a beacon from the mostly bland comments of his colleagues. It is an absolute travesty that Willis has been consigned to the studio with that muppet Charles Colville. Willis deserves better and should be part of the top commentary team alongside Mike Atherton.

Our favourite Willis moment in the commentary box has to be when he was venting his anger about the players being allowed to come off for bad light. When Colville tried to argue that it was too dangerous, Willis acidly opined "show me the bodies". Classic Willis.

Bob Willis, demon fast bowler with 325 test wickets at 25.20, hero of Headingley 1981, caustic commentator and a Reverse Sweep hero.

Comments

[Ian Ashworth]

He's a fantastic commentator, and very underrated. I'm always reading criticisms of him by people saying he's dull, but he's brilliantly witty and his rants are scarily intense and genuine, not like the whinging moans of some others.

Oh, and he was a bloody good bowler too.

[MartDawg]

Not quite old enough to remember him as the fine bowler he clearly was.

I can see why people think he is dull though. Very dry and not the most likeable of commentators. Having said that what he says I more often than not agree with and he is not shy of saying something others would deem a bit controversial. I thoroughly enjoy his spells on TV.

Top chap in my eyes, particularly given his performance in 'Botham's Test'. He is the cricketing Stan Mortensen to Botham's Stanley Matthews.

[The Reverse Sweep]

That is an excellent analogy Martdawg - Mortensen and Matthews, Willis and Botham! For me, it is Willis' caustic wit and venom that makes him so watchable. It is much better to have an opinion than not when commentating and no one can accuse Willis of ever sitting on the fence!

[The Reverse Sweep]

and like you Ian, he doesn't like Harmy too much either!

[Julian Bates (Julio)]

Mmm, I do have a vey soft spot for him (and I used to observe his eerie run-in, with his indeed 'gangly frame, and copied it (In fact I can still do it:).

But like Geoff Boycott, I only want a little. Perhaps it is becasue -being 'conviction-cricket-brains', they are only sure of their persepctive and don't really see or understand another (David Gour is almost a bit too good at that!)

But I do enjoy seeing him, listen and am oft amused by what he's got to say, and I agree with him usually about the umpires.

I love them all (Sky Sports and channel 5)...

[The Reverse Sweep]

Ha ha Julio, Willis is certainly a little one-eyed at times with his views!