Cricinfo - Players and Officials

Full name Robert George Dylan Willis
Born May 30, 1949, Sunderland, Co Durham
Current age 59 years 98 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

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

128

840

28*

11.50

2564

32.76

ODIs

10.37

157

52.86

First-class

308

333

145

2690

14.30

134

List A

293

113

615

52*

9.46

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

165

17357

8190

325

8/43

9/92

25.20

2.83

53.4

ODIs

3595

1968

4/11

24.60

3.28

44.9

First-class

308

47986

22468

899

8/32

24.99

2.80

53.3

List A

293

14983

8497

421

7/32

20.18

3.40

35.5

Career statistics

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.

Willis, a bony 6ft 6ins with sharp knees and elbows and a cascade of curly brownish-auburn hair, was a rarity among international sportsmen: no athlete in the accepted sense, his only aptitude was bowling, and that mainly through aggression and determination. But Frank Tyson was England's only postwar bowler who was clearly faster; and none, not even Fred Trueman, was a more intimidating sight than Willis as he charged dead straight down his 30-yard approach.

On retirement he moved into the media, and for many years formed a strong partnership with Ian Botham for Sky Sports, and although his laconic style did not suit all, a sharp and humourous individual hid just under the surface. He found himself sidelined from front-line commentary duties in 2006, but he remained part of the team.
Cricinfo staff

Jan 23, 2005

The BSkyB commentary team: David Gower, Nasser Hussain, Bob Willis, Ian Botham © Getty Images

Jun 19, 2004

Bob Willis in Sky Sports mode © Getty Images

Apr 7, 2004

Michael Atherton and Bob Willis © Getty Images

View the full list of 17 related images