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YouTube of the Week - Brian Close

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In 1973 the Windies had gone into the first Test match at The Oval with an attack of the medium fast of Sobers, Julien, Boyce, and the spin of Lance Gibbs and Inshan Ali.

Fast forward three years and it was the new dawn with Holding, Roberts and Daniel with more to follow!:eek:

I still can remember watching that on the telly as a 12 year old and thinking that second delivery would have killed Close had it hit him. The following day the Windies bowlers decided to bowl at the stumps instead and it was over pretty quickly.
 
Great player, great captain and hard as nails. His Wikipedia page is an interesting read, this bit giving an insight into the snobbery in cricket and the country generally when he was trying to make his name:

Close continued to do well for Yorkshire and was selected to play for
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, at
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in July. Unofficially, this prestigious match also served as a Test match trial,
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and Close scored 65 runs, the most amongst the Players, in what was described as a "most commendable performance" by The Times. During the match, Close got caught out by cricket's antiquated social etiquette. When he reached his half-century he was congratulated by the Gentlemen's wicket-keeper, , who said: "Well played, Brian", to which Close responded: "Thank you, Billy". Ten days later, he was called to see , a member of the Yorkshire committee, who reprimanded Close for his effrontery in not addressing an amateur player as "Mister
 
One of my all time favourite archives, 45 yo Close (and 39 yo Edrich) absorbing the best that Whispering Death could pummel them with, just awesome. Imagine thinking that if you see Holding off you still have to deal with Roberts and Daniel.

Nice article about it
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