Bob Willis OG 1968

FORMER ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN

One of the giants of English cricket, Bob Willis’ career spanned decades, from his days as a cricketer for England to his time as a pundit on Sky TV. The legendary fast bowler took 325 wickets in 90 Tests from 1971 to 1984, claiming an outstanding career-best 8-43 to help England to a famous win over Australia at Headingley in the 1981 Ashes. He captained England in 18 Tests and 29 one-day internationals before his retirement in 1984.

Bob is seen here in the 1st XI cricket team in 1965. According to The Guildfordian of the time: “The first XI had the best season in its history by emerging undefeated from 15 games. Three matches were won by over 100 runs. The wickets were spread evenly between the five main bowlers – Beeson, Denning, Howard, Martindale and Willis – who between them took 115 wickets.”

Bob subsequently worked as a summariser on BBC TV before joining Sky Sports as a commentator in 1991. He continued to work for Sky and was part of their coverage of the 2019 Ashes series. Having appeared for both Surrey Schools and the County Colts, Willis represented Surrey for the first two years of his professional career before spending 12 years at Warwickshire, finishing with 899 wickets from 308 first-class matches at an average of 24.99.

Cricketing career Willis made his international debut aged 21 in the 1971 Ashes after being called up to replace the injured Alan Ward. He played the final four Tests of the seven match series as England won 2-0. Willis went on to tour Australia in 1974 but had to return home injured. He returned to the England team in 1976 for the last two Tests against the all-conquering West Indians. That year in India, he took 20 wickets, including 5-27 at Kolkata and 6-53 at Bangalore. In the 1977 Jubilee Test at Lord’s he floored the Australians with 7-78: at Trent Bridge he took 5-88; and at the Oval, 5-102. His heroic 8-43 led England to beat Australia at Headingley in the 1981 Ashes and with England following on in their second innings, he helped Ian Botham to add 37 runs for the last wicket. Touring India and Sri Lanka the following winter, he was appointed England captain. Facing India and Pakistan, he took 25 wickets, winning both series. A fearsome strike bowler, Willis intimidated even the world’s finest batsmen and in his final Test match in June 1984 he achieved yet another historic career landmark: 52 “not outs”, a record in Test cricket.

At England’s 1,000th Test in August 2018, he was named in the country’s greatest Test XI by the ECB. The Bob Willis Trophy tournament was held for the first time in 2020, a one-off, first class cricket tournament in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, which Essex won against Somerset.

Bob was not awarded Cricket Colours when at the School, which came up when he met Dr Jon Cox, RGS Headmaster, a cricket fan and member of the MCC, a few years ago. Dr Cox promptly sent him an RGS Cricket Colours tie, which Bob duly wore when he was next on Sky Sports.

OGs remember…here are a few of the many memories of cricket and friendship shared by his contemporaries at RGS. Bob would stop to chat and reminisce with OGs when and wherever they bumped into him

Monday morning assemblies where the results of school matches would be announced: the opposition bowled out for a handful of runs, then our opening batsmen cruising to victory. A great player, sadly missed.

I remember opening a door at a party to find Bob on his own in a bedroom singing along to a Bob Dylan album. He was a true original. (In homage to his great musical hero, Bob Dylan, RGDW would later add Dylan as a third forename by deed poll.)

Walking past Lords with a group of cricketing mates in the ‘80s, Bob was walking towards us. I had always bored my pals with the tale of taking a catch at 4th slip off Bob’s bowling … not sure they really believed me, but when Bob said “Hello Boney” and stopped for a 5 minute chat, I think that they were more convinced. One of a kind he was.

It was terrifying even to watch Bob bowling in school matches, so much so that it was a key factor in my decision to opt to do Athletics in the Sixth Form!

What about the story of him missing the second day of a Surrey U21 match as he went to the Isle of Wight to see Bob Dylan and couldn’t get back in time?

I didn’t know him at all well but for me his stance on apartheid as much as his part in the “Botham” test was a source of profound admiration.

In Bob’s final year he was the House cricket captain but decided not to bowl in inter-house matches ... his reason... we had nobody who could keep wicket to him!

In 1962, in the Summer months Dickie Dawkes encouraged me to attend Parkhurst to assist in Cricket Coaching. Some years later my brother, Roger OG’66, informed me that one of the boys I ”coached” was Bob Willis. I cannot say, in any way, that I had a dramatic impact, or any, on his ability or subsequent scintillating career. Nice story though.

Remember that old greatcoat that he used to wear!

RGS 1st XI cricket 1969, front row third from left