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Full name Robert George Dylan Willis
Born May 30, 1949, Sunderland, Co Durham
Current age 59 years 189 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
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
90
128
55
840
28*
11.50
2564
32.76
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
Bowling averages
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
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
Profile
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
