On Thursday, the legendary Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev termed Bob Willis as a “terror to face,” revealing that the England fast bowling legend, who died aged 70, was the only one to ever hit him with the ball. In a Test in England, Willis pitched the ball short and Kapil went for his signature “Nataraj” pull shot, the former all-rounder said as he paid tribute to Willis whose death was announced on Wednesday.
Talking to the Hindu, Kapil said, “It was a very sharp ball, faster than I had imagined, and hit me on the ear. It was the only time I was struck. Willis was a terrific fast bowler, with a run-up that was unique. I never heard Willis swear at a batsman, never saw him argue with the umpire. He did not believe in talking. He wanted his ball to speak for him. A true legend he was.”
Sandeep Patil recalled meanwhile that despite having in 1982 smashed Willis for six fours in one over, as well as for four fours in the 1983 World Cup semi-final, the Englishman was frightening to come up against.
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The middle-order master said he was “never comfortable facing (Willis). He would put fear in the mind of the batsman with his searing pace. You had to watch him very closely as he neared the stumps and be ready for the thunderbolts that he would unleash. Thunderbolts they were.”
Willis played in 90 Tests, scalped 325 wickets with his aggressive pace bowling and also captained England for a spell before retiring in 1984 and taking up a career in broadcasting.
Yashpal Sharma, who saw off Willis in 1982 in Chennai in a knock of 140, said that the Englishman “second to none, in speed, skill, and feats.”
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Sharma said, “If the pitch helped him, he was a terror, unplayable. His incoming ball was hard to spot and tackle. I would rate him alongside Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall in terms of speed. What I liked most was how he appreciated the opponent even though he competed hard on the field.”
