1981 Headingley Impossible win - Bob Willis 8/43 - Most famous Ashes spell ever!
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Published 2017-12-06
#bobwillis
Then, with Australia poised to go two up in the series, Willis charged in and took 8 for 43 to bundle Australia out for 111 and see England home by 18 runs.
One of cricket's greatest stories.
#headingley #1981 #ashes
All Comments (21)
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Aussie fan here. Those three deliveries by Bob Willis to Trevor Chappell, Kim Hughes and Graham Yallop are some of the fastest and most vicious deliveries I've ever seen. RIP Bob Willis, you were a true Ashes warrior.
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Simply the greatest Test match. Willis, Botham and Unsung hero Graham Dilley. Couldn’t believe when I saw he had passed away so young. As for Richie Benaud..my all time favourite commentator without a hint of partisanship in his commentary..truly the voice of cricket.
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Like so many other people this is the match that got me into cricket. They call it Botham's Ashes but without this unbelievable spell of bowling by Bob Willis all of Ian's heroics would have been for nothing. Bob Willis passed away today so I just want to say thanks for everything Bob and may you rest in peace big feller.
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Can you imagine Bob Willis hugging & laughing with the opposition? No, he didn’t even talk to his teammates. The man was intense. Focussed on what mattered most in that moment. RIP
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What I really respected about Richie Benaud was his complete impartiality. He loved cricket and commentated accordingly. Not saying he didn’t love Australia; he did. But he was never partisan.
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When I see Ray Bright's middle stump smashed out of the ground, and hear the most iconic piece of cricket commentary of all time from the great Richie Benaud, I cry. This was my youth, and I can never get it back. RGD Willis 8-43. The greatest test match bowling spell of all time. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Bob.
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Let us not forget the contribution to this win by Mike Brearley? What a captain!
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skipped school to watch it , been unemployed the last 37 years but it was worth it
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Our junior school teacher packed us into the hall, wheeled out the TV and we sat legs crossed watching history being made. Take a bow, Mr Sanderson!
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I watched this game live on my parent’s black and white in Perth WA as a schoolboy. I’m an Aussie supporter but the Botham innings and the Bob Willis bowling performance will live with me for the rest of my life.
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RIP Sir Bob Willis you is,was and will always remain one of the all time greatest fast bowler in the history of cricket.Will never forget this incredible spell of aggressive and hostile fast bowling against Australia in Ashes 1981.Tributes to you from India.🙏
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As a Warwickshire lad, Bob Willis was, and still is my sporting hero. Fantastic site seeing this fella steaming in for club and country. A legend in the purest sense.
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RIP Bob. I cycled back 11 miles from a fishing trip as a kid to watch this devastating spell of test cricket. Great commentator also and fellow Dylan fan.
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I watched every second of this match live on tv. Its the best cricket match I've ever seen and I doubt there's ever been better.
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Will never ever be repeated, the circumstances, the 500/1,the booking out of the hotel,the tunnel vision by Bob,the empty ground ending up full,sporting drama at its best I remember been 8 yrs old and watching it & even then I just couldn't believe what was happening, absolutely brilliant and so was the commentary Ritchie benaud at his imperial best ,what a win England
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Never have I seen a sportsman so focused. Bob was completely "zoned out" and on a different planet. Planet Destruction. I believe that he re-entered the Earth's atmosphere around three days later 🧡
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I had just started a new job up in Newcastle, maybe the second or third week. The secretary had a TV on her desk and started walking through the office keeping us updated as the wickets fell, by the end of the afternoon, everybody had stopped working and were crowded around her TV, including all the management. Great memories.
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Willis passed away today. Rest in Peace. What a legend. What an absolute legend.
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RIP Bob: A world class fast bowler. A cricketing expert. And a true gentleman. My memories of this test match will never die - my kids know the folklore.
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My dad drove back from Cornwall like a madman so we could watch this live. I always loved Bob because he was a Dylan fan. Thanks for posting this - I never tire of reliving that incredible summer.
