Full name Robert George Dylan Willis
Born May 30, 1949, Sunderland, Co Durham
Died December 4, 2019 (aged 70 years 188 days)
Major teams England, Northern Transvaal, Surrey, Warwickshire
Also known as birth registered as Robert George Willis
Nickname Goose, Dylan, Harold, Swordfish
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Other Commentator
Height 6 ft 6 in
Education Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 90 | 128 | 55 | 840 | 28* | 11.50 | 2574 | 32.63 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 1 | 39 | 0 |
ODIs | 64 | 22 | 14 | 83 | 24 | 10.37 | 157 | 52.86 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
First-class | 308 | 333 | 145 | 2690 | 72 | 14.30 | 0 | 2 | 134 | 0 | ||||
List A | 293 | 113 | 48 | 615 | 52* | 9.46 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 90 | 165 | 17357 | 8190 | 325 | 8/43 | 9/92 | 25.20 | 2.83 | 53.4 | 12 | 16 | 0 |
ODIs | 64 | 64 | 3595 | 1968 | 80 | 4/11 | 4/11 | 24.60 | 3.28 | 44.9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 308 | 47986 | 22468 | 899 | 8/32 | 24.99 | 2.80 | 53.3 | 34 | 2 | |||
List A | 293 | 14983 | 8497 | 421 | 7/32 | 7/32 | 20.18 | 3.40 | 35.5 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
Test debut | Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 9-14, 1971 scorecard |
Last Test | England v West Indies at Leeds, Jul 12-16, 1984 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | England v West Indies at Leeds, Sep 5, 1973 scorecard |
Last ODI | England v West Indies at Lord's, Jun 4, 1984 scorecard |
ODI statistics | |
First-class span | 1969 - 1984 |
List A span | 1969 - 1984 |
A case could be made that Bob Willis was the most courageous fast bowler who ever played for England. After operations on both knees in 1975, when he was 26, he seldom bowled without pain, and at one stage had to run five miles a day to build the strength to play at all. Yet through sheer willpower he sustained his career for nine more years, and emerged with 325 wickets from his 90 Tests. Fitting as it was the last game of any consequence he played should have been for England, it was cruel that the 1984 West Indian assault that proved his time had come took place at Headingley, scene of the his greatest triumph, the famous 8 for 43 that beat Australia in the Botham Test three years before.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1978