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Willis wonder day - 40 years ago today


I was there…. sadly not the action packed Monday/Tuesday.
I was sixteen and my grandfather and I went on the Thursday… the first day. My grandfather gave me the choice , which day do you fancy?
I wanted the Thursday, he wanted the Monday but he allowed me the choice.
I remember not much happened on the Thursday, we even had to shelter from the rain in the next door Rugby League Stadium for a short period of team.
A big regret of mine is not listening to a wise old man , and missing out on Bob and Botham’s brilliance.
Instead i was at home in Sunderland watching it on the box…. but still magical viewing.
 
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I was in the Lower 6th at the time and it was the last week of term and there was some sort of Open Day on so we were allowed to leave at 12pm. Me and my mate walked the 2 miles home listening on the transistor radio and Australia were cruising at 40 odd for 1.

Was in two minds whether to watch the TV coverage but went upstairs and lay on the floor watching it on my black & white portable as Sir Bob got to work and of course I didnt dare move in case this somehow changed the course of the game.:lol:

I remember Lillee (who was no mug with the bat) and Bright nearly snatching it until Fat Gatt pulled off that catch and then Willis rearranged Bright's stumps. There then followed the bizarre post match ceremony where Fred Trueman somehow managed not to mention Willis and then of course we had the latter's now legendary interview with Peter West.:D

In my opinion still the most thrilling fast bowling spell I've ever seen from an English bowler.
 
The Red Telephone said:
I was in the Lower 6th at the time and it was the last week of term and there was some sort of Open Day on so we were allowed to leave at 12pm. Me and my mate walked the 2 miles home listening on the transistor radio and Australia were cruising at 40 odd for 1.

Was in two minds whether to watch the TV coverage but went upstairs and lay on the floor watching it on my black & white portable as Sir Bob got to work and of course I didnt dare move in case this somehow changed the course of the game.:lol:

I remember Lillee (who was no mug with the bat) and Bright nearly snatching it until Fat Gatt pulled off that catch and then Willis rearranged Bright's stumps. There then followed the bizarre post match ceremony where Fred Trueman somehow managed not to mention Willis and then of course we had the latter's now legendary interview with Peter West.:D

In my opinion still the most thrilling fast bowling spell I've ever seen from an English bowler.
Click to expand...
Yeah Truman didn’t like Bob, then again Truman didn’t like anybody. Thanks for sharing you memories of that day.
 
Anthly said:
I was there…. sadly not the action packed Monday/Tuesday.
I was sixteen and my grandfather and I went on the Thursday… the first day. My grandfather gave me the choice , which day do you fancy?
I wanted the Thursday, he wanted the Monday but he allowed me the choice.
I remember not much happened on the Thursday, we even had to shelter from the rain in the next door Rugby League Stadium for a short period of team.
A big regret of mine is not listening to a wise old man , and missing out on Bob and Botham’s brilliance.
Instead i was at home in Sunderland watching it on the box…. but still magical viewing.
Click to expand...

I was there on the Monday and spent Tuesday afternoon dialling 160 for the score updates
 
Anthly said:
I was there…. sadly not the action packed Monday/Tuesday.
I was sixteen and my grandfather and I went on the Thursday… the first day. My grandfather gave me the choice , which day do you fancy?
I wanted the Thursday, he wanted the Monday but he allowed me the choice.
I remember not much happened on the Thursday, we even had to shelter from the rain in the next door Rugby League Stadium for a short period of team.
A big regret of mine is not listening to a wise old man , and missing out on Bob and Botham’s brilliance.
Instead i was at home in Sunderland watching it on the box…. but still magical viewing.
Click to expand...
I was also there on the first day, Thursday.John Dyson scored 102.
 
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