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Bob Willis

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He was on Skysports news about a month ago and didn’t look well at all.

RIP
 
Kin hell.
Didn't even know he was ill.
Just knew he wasn't in the studio giving his opinion after the NZ tests.

Will be missed massively.

I do remember his bowling.

Obviously the Headingley Test.

Actually a bit upset.

RIP
 
Sunderland born and battled back from several serious knee operation.

Genuinely gutted that my fast bowling hero has passed away.

RIP Bob
 
That rampaging run down the Headingley hill in 1981 will never be forgotten.

Loved reading his diary of a cricket season books he wrote back in the late 70s and early 80s - I'll have to flick through them again from my collection of cricket books.
 
RIP. Not being interested in cricket I did not even know he was born in Sunderland, but I knew he was one of the England greats.
 
He had a very distinctive running and bowling style. If anyone has seen the American version of The Office, I would say Mose Shrute was his bowling style.

He had a box at Roker Park for a few years, albeit being a City fan. I remember seeing Mike Gatting there getting very excited as Sunderland turned defeat into victory over Middlesbrough one Sunday lunchtime.

He was consistently good for England at a time when bowlers form was at best erratic. Sometimes he added a touch of genius.

They talk about Botham's 149 at Headigley but Bob's 8-43 was for me far more astonishing when you consider Australia were strolling along at 56 for 1 just before lunch. With some inspired bowling he turned that into 58 for 4 at lunch and then into 111 all out.

He was ahead of his time with the mental side of the game, too, using self-hypnosis to give him relaxation, confidence and extra motivation on the field.

In the commentary box, he had a deadpan wit and gave England plenty of praise, which is sometimes overlooked, as well as criticism when he felt they deserved it

I find it hard to imagine The Verdict and The Debate without him. Thank you, Bob, for a thousand brilliant memories from childhood right up to today.
 
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