1981 Headingley Impossible win - Bob Willis 8/43 - Most famous Ashes spell ever!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ธ.ค. 2017
- Bob Willis' golden period as a world-class fast bowler culminated in the 1981 Ashes and the Headingley Test. Australia needed just 76 more runs to win with 9 wickets in hand and Bob Willis was in a trance not even celebrating his wickets. Such was his concentration that people thought he was on drugs! What happened in that match has become part of cricketing folklore. England followed on and were seven wickets down for 135 in their second innings. Botham, sacked as captain before the Test, smashed a remarkable149 not out. And then, supported by Graham Dilley and Chris Old, he gave England a lead of 129 runs.
#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 - กีฬา
skipped school to watch it , been unemployed the last 37 years but it was worth it
Yup. Worth every moment!
Best comment 😂
Was my first ever job, but my boss let me listen on the radio. Still love him for that.
Brilliant 😂😂😂
gareth charlton You’ve won TH-cam 🤣
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.
remember the tv screen ENG to win 500/1
cant remember if anyone took that bet most people would have thought just giving money to the bookie
From memory I think Lillee and Marsh put money on England at those odds.
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.
Nn
Very true. Like players, they were too legends.
Hear hear
He was a great man, and a very sad loss.
So true. Great man.
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.
Although there is rivalry us Brits still love our Aussies!
Great Post my friend
The last delivery looked quick and seemed to move a bit as well. It was pretty much unplayable.
What nice words, your country provided the greatest cricket commentator bar none
@@marshlightening sometimes...
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.
How did he die?
@@cliveuuking4602 Cancer
Mr botham built his reputation on some very very dodgy ozzie teams.
@@paulclissold1525 Maybe you missed the fact that this video was about Bob Willis?
My thoughts exactly 👏👏👏
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!
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
Let us not forget the contribution to this win by Mike Brearley? What a captain!
Ian Botham certainly benefited from being relieved of the responsibility.
@@alanjm1234 never
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.
You have summed this up perfectly.
Amen to that!!! 🙏
5:25 that me in the blue Shirt
@@spizzenergi2292 😂some polite applause 👏🏻
Hadlees 9 for 53 wasnt bad either, nor was curtly at the wacca
Willis passed away today. Rest in Peace. What a legend. What an absolute legend.
RIP 🙏🙏
Thank you for this lovely comment sayan
@@johntate5722 Sad comment.... Miss him for ever.. May God Bless His family
True legend
BW Sunderland born.
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.
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.
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.🙏
Watched this live as a12yo with my dad never forget how happy my dad was . Fantastic cricket match.miss you so much dad xx.
Watched it with my late dad as well. I was 19 at the time. We both couldn't believe England had snatched this. They seemed totally lost before the inputs of Botham and Willis.
HAPPY DAYS.
Hi david evans I had exactly the same experience. I watched it with my Father, amazing game! One of the best memories I have with my Dad. I miss him too! Great to have these wonderful moments!
peterc agreed, amazing match!
Same ;)
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 🧡
He was angry with the selectors
One of the greatest days in English sport simply fantastic
Even after all these years, this still makes me emotional
And C Old,he got Border.
And me! My cheeks were wet watching this and I still punched the air when the great Bob Taylor took one of his catches. And Gatting??? 🙏
And me.
Never seen anyone more focussed than Bob Willis was on that day
Probably the best fast bowling display ever.
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.
Yes....
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
Messers lillee and marshes bet paid off. Lol
Aussies got very, very rich. At a time that salaries couldn't compete with the bet. Make of that, what you will.
Benaud was impartial.Remember one of his comment on lbw decision negated by umpire in favour of Australia.He quipped, ball would have missed the leg stump and perhaps the off stump.But I have no doubt in my mind what it would have done to the middle stump!!
Sorely missed.
This was also a great example of top quality captaincy. If you watch Willis' reaction after each wicket he was clearly in the zone, knew exactly what he was doing, and wasn't getting carried away. The rest of the players were - understandably - getting more and more animated. Mike Brearley did a great job of sensing Willis' mood, managing the situation appropriately and keeping everything together. Willis and Botham were the stars but great work by Brearley.
A great victory for England to be sure. What a show by Bob Willis. I recall listening to these moments being broadcast on ABC radio.
Caught up with replays on television. But all these years later, whilst enjoying the replay on TH-cam, what I'm enjoying the most are
the mellow sounds of Richie Benaud's commentary. Unbiased and accurate in every detail. Cricket and Richie...how good is that?
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.
This was the match that got me into cricket. I was born in Essex but growing up in Ireland, 12 years old and listening to it live on the radio. You couldn't write the script...a century by beefy, then Big Bob steaming in from that marathon run up, the crowd cheering and the wickets tumbling, the final one a beautiful full ball taking middle stump...Boys Own stuff...Magic.
I would have been eleven back then and in my last year at junior school, so a year younger than you. The panda is very relevant to me, as I had three toy pandas when growing up!
Bob thank you for your talent and spirt I watched this as child in 81 and was thrilled . R.i.p god bless thank u 😊❤❤
So sad to hear he has died. One of the legends of my childhood.
How old was he?
@@rajsindha5488 70
He was one of great fast bowlers Alas, he passed away... really he was fantastic winner of match... respect from Pakistan
RIP 🙏🙏
Dear Sparlings Farm. I am so sorry that his soul was sapped. He was my Surrey hero. Many times, I had seen him perform live for my London county and England country.
No fist pumping no animated reactions after taking wickets at such a tense situation. Bob you were a beauty..
I remember watching this test with my Grandad. Still one of my favourite sporting memories ever. Still gives me goosebumps watching it now.
Let’s also pay tribute to the great voice of Christopher Martin-Jenkins who I found out passed away in 2013. A wonderful voice to listen to on radio and TV.
Best ever, "what a triumph it would be for him if he is still batting at 6 o'clock this evening"
CMJ, I loved him on the radio
I used to play cricket with him in Jim Swanson’s team, the Arabs (because we had no home ground of our own) and we were therefore nomads . CMJ, whom we all knew as ‘the Colonel was an accomplished club player, very elegant to watch, and a champion of a dying breed, a gentleman cricketer. I last saw him in India, on the day of the CWC FINAL in Mumbai in 2011.He told me then that he had cancer. He was quite matter of fact about it. He was an outstanding man. RIP Colonel.
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.
THE legend of Bob Willis --- Rest in peace.
This remarkable bowling spell is the magnificent salient feature of late Bob Willis .While I was young of 25, l had listened to this event on radio.what a beautiful run up& bowling action he had! Hats off.
Me too. I was 25 yrs old in Wales sunbathing in a pub camp site next to my Triumph Spitfire, DAR 485K, the driver's door open so my mate and I could listen to TMS. I remember leaping up at the point of victory from lying down and receiving the corner of said door in my head. Happy days.
Great spell from Bob Willis. RIP big man.
If his run-up was any longer he'd be coming down the steps in the stand.
Willis bowling in a trance- no emotion. Absolutely incredible performance
You are so right, I never realised that, he is in total focus and not getting carried away with the celebrations, incredible display.
He looked like he hated everybody, including his own team.
Probably not as much as he hated Fred Trueman for not mentioning him in his speech after the match.
Absolutely devastating spell of violent bowling. RIP, big man.
remember bob willis growing up , his unique run up and fast pace made him special . after he retired his commentary was always good and unbiased too , top man . rip bob willis
RIP Robert George Dylan Willis. One of the great spells in the history of Test Cricket
A huge Bob Dylan fan. My brother seen him while waiting to see a Dylan concert.
Truly wonderful great days, great players great commentators great BBC coverage happy times gone forever 😢😢
Bob Willis what a thoroughly decent man RIP. This was his finest hour..... Thank you for posting 👍👍
RIP Willis. What an exceptional bowler and pundit
RIP the great Bob Willis! His wit, humour and his legendary commentary will be greatly missed. "Well Charles". He will be missed in the debate and the verdict on Sky. Thanks for the memories big Bob!
I watched this on telly as a cricket-mad nipper of 11, but it's the first time I've watched it in its entirety since then. I knew Bob was a fast bowler, but this is PROPER quick, seriously hostile bowling. Brilliant stuff.
Same age as me, then - at the end of junior school. Beefy was my hero during my formative years!
If you dont remember this as a youngster, then you didnt bunk off school enough! Legendary test match. R.I.P. Big Bob.
rip graham dilley as well as big bob, thanks for the memory of this unbelievable comeback win
I sat watching this with my late Dad and it still makes me nervous watching it now. Bob Willis delivering probably the most destructive and devastating fast bowling I've ever seen. Thank you for that.
Thank you Mr Willis. I watched this match live as a very young man, it made me a life long cricket fan.
At 8.00, the man who is bowling, the man who was batting and the man who took the catch are all gone from this world. Rest in peace Bob Willis, Rod Marsh and Graham Dilley.......
As of today, sadly, the great Bob Willis is no longer with us. But his spell on that summer day in 1981 will live forever. I watched it as a 15 year old kid and I dont think I have seen such a remarkable comeback since.
Rip Bob Willis. Thanks for the memories and the superb commentary big man! This spell will never be forgotten as long as cricket is played!
R.I.P. Bob Willis, one of England's finest bowlers, and a superb commentator.
Let us never forget the third hero of Headingley - Graham Dilley, RIP
Damn Right
Gareth Williams Good call!
Indeed. Watching him bat with Botham in that famous second-innings stand is a very happy memory.
Yes, died of oesophageal cancer cancer aged 52.
Didn't know he died so young, that is sad. Respects from Australia
RIP Bob Willis...Legend forever...
I still get goosebumps 42 years later, what an amazing game.
I watched this live and remember it like it was yesterday. It is a bowling spell that will never be forgotten. Vale Bob Willis - the lion!
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.
Classic. Great England team, full of characters and they raised one anothers game. Bob Willis. Legend. It was a long hot summer, even in Scotland that year.
Superb spell by Willis. He really bowled his heart out
Thank you SO MUCH for posting this video. That was one of the best days of my life! I used to work for the BBC and I had been on duty in vision (matching the cameras) at Headingly the day before when Botham had his prodigious knock, but I went home rather depressed because, despite a creditable innings it was obvious Australia would win with such a low target and so many class batsmen. The following morning I sat down in front of the telly (sound off, Test Match Special up on the radio!!!) because I had nothing much I fancied doing on my day off. AND WHAT A DAY OFF it turned out to be! I remember a flurry of wickets and then with hardly anyone left the Aussies dug in and the depression returned… then that final wicket! Woot woot!!!
Lucky you for having seen that match live with the BBC. It must have been wonderful. Long live the memories.
An afternoon in the summer of 1981, that i will treasure for the rest of my life
Paul Little indeed. One of the best memories
Me too mate, happy days
Work stopped in our office that afternoon!
Me Too!!!
@@billrowell2919 I was 19 then.
Well I thought, Australia will win.
Went to do some bodywork on my Ford Capri.
Came back and they were nine wickets down, and missed all the drama!
Still get shivers. This series got me as a 10 Yr old into cricket. Bob Willis RIP
Watching this back no more than an hour of Bobs death was announced. An outstanding cricketer and a great pundit.
Great innings Bob, rest easy.
Five slips is such an alpha field setting. With Bob and his magnificent barnet steaming in there was only one outcome possible.
Deffo was Bobs finest hour a very underated bowler who had he bowled on the bone hard surfaces of Australia or the Caribean would have a much improved test record as his style was made for it
I'm here because of the BBC - still brilliant all these years on - and great coverage the late great Richie Benaud, CMJ, Tom Graveney, Ted Dexter and earlier Gentleman Jim Laker. Happy days.
Graham Dilley - unsung hero of '81 RIP
A superb bowler!
R.I.P.
@@rafikhan908 True.....
Partnership with Botham, Dilley got 50 and is never mentioned. The 3rd man that made this possible. But I am a Kent fan....
I did not know Dilley was gone until now. Devastating. Icons of English cricket as an Aussie we respected. Very sad.
RIP Bob...4 dec 19...best and only true fast baller England had at the time, a unsung hero.
Amazing - thank you for sharing - RIP the great Bob Willis - I will always remember being a teenager picking strawberries in a field in Kent to earn some pocket money listening to the coverage of that test - I was really rooting for Bob Willis and every time he took a wicket I screamed and shouted across the field - one of the greatest fast bowlers this country has ever produced
Richie Benaud ruled......awesome commentator.
Glad he took us through this epic match.
Agreed. Saying that the Aussies faced a "daunting task" at lunch (72 to win with six wickets standing, Dyson and Border at the crease and Marsh still to bat) are the words of a man who already knows the match result, though. At that point I'd have still put my money on Australia if I'd been old enough to go into a betting shop.
That test series was a totally deserved end for Benaud, a magnificent test series to finish a magnificent career.
The 2005? Ashes that is, what an awesome test, shame it had to finish.
A bit biased at times though. So sick of hearing him go on about Warne and Healy when he made a good catch, we all knew how good they were during the 'bad old days' , Taylor/Marsh 350 + for 0 on Day 1. I'll always remember that.
The best cricket commentator was Alan McGilvray. John Arlott may have been more 'poetic', but Alan was the most unbiased most knowledgeable commentator since I began listening to cricket in the 1960s.
NZer here - Willis was a real legend of the game! Unmistakable with his approach to the wicket and his big bouncing head of hair!
Bob Willis. Legend. Will never be forgotten.
Love how Bob was so in the zone and just turned round and got his jumper or went back to his mark after each wicket.
He was a man in a mission that day
RIP Bob
One of the most extraordinary spells of bowling ever, mesmerising.
There have over the years Joker been many many great matches but there was TV no Hype so did not get the exposure that cricket gets today
True and not a mention in the ceremony.
I heard radio running commentary. This was an awesome test match - Botham 149 was unbelievable. Then Willis ripped thru Aussies
80s cricket was competitive and fierce.. ashes at its best. Can't ask for more 👍👍👍
What a spell man unbelievable rip Big Bob
Had to come back and watch this after the sad news about RGD today. Watched this as a 10 year old, even now hard to believe how good he was and how special this was. RIP Bob
It’s amazing to think that two of the (comparatively) unsung heroes in Willis and Dilley are sadly no longer with us.
Was lucky enough to witness this live as a wide eyed 12 year old...vivid memories just as if it were yesterday
Funny xx
I was at home by myself on a study leave. Took a break to watch the cricket expecting Australia to win. Then Bob took a wicket so I thought I’d watch a bit more and eventually ended up watching to the end. Apparently traders in the City stopped trading shares and started watching the cricket as the day progressed and you will see the near empty ground filling up as the day went on. Amazing moment. Good old Bob. Great character and sportsman.
I remember watching this spell. I have never seen anyone bowl "in the zone" like that before or since. Scarily determined. Willis carried the England pace attack for years. RIP RGD Willis.
Richie benaud, best cricket commentator ever
Could have listened to Richie Benaud & Tony Greig all day....
What a maaarrrvelous catch .... that was.
" splendid effort that I thought " RB the best .
the best SPORTS commentator ever
Definitely. And one of the most imitated as well :-)
a wonderful moment in time that shall never be forgotten. Bob will always be remembered by those who care about the wonderful game of test cricket.
11 years old at the time still remember watching this
Deadly combination.. Bob Willis, Ian Botham & Ghram Dilly 🔥 with spin magic of Dareck Underwood ❤️
derek underwood didn't play in 81'
@@davidcartmell2141
No, it was Darleck Underwood - no relation to Derek.
Sad news about Bob Willis today. Makes me feel old, as it does not seem that long ago that, as a teenager, I was watching him bowl for England.
:(
I would be younger than you, as I was eleven and leaving junior school at the time. Willis' demise I remember hearing about - he was 70 and so twenty one years older than me. Makes me feel old; forty one years ago and my childhood. I am now fifty two!
RIP Bob, what a great spell !
I can recognize all the players ... Boy! am I old? Great team
Superb piece of fast bowling by Bob Willis.
I remember watching this live on holiday in Westgate as a 13 year old kid. Will stay with me forever.
I was 12. I will never forget it. Greatest test ever.👍
I was eleven. Beefy my childhood hero!
I can watch this video over and over again. It was wonderful.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man! When the BBC's licence fee was value for money; cricket was pure theatre, without crass props and high fiving; the commentary was beautifully understated; and the West Indies remained the greatest team of the 80s. And yet still, like many observers, after the revelation of Marsh's and Lillee's betting, a degree of doubt over the legitimacy of the result ultimately robbed those of us who were captivated and enthralled in real time by this remarkable sporting achievement, of the unadulterated pleasure it so richly deserved. Shame on you, may your wattle forever droop!
Back when we could watch it free to air! Was it 2005 the last time that happened? Wonderful stuff. I watched all the tussles with the Aussies through the 80s and it was truly brilliant seeing all these images again.
That's when cricket shot itself in the foot selling it's sould to Sky. Kids don't get to see cricket these days and most working class kids only have a vague idea what cricket even is......
I would have been eleven back then and in my last year at junior school, so grew up watching cricket on the BBC. Remember 2005 series, aged 35. Glenn McGrath is just four months older than me!!!
Headingly, scene of the best English Test Match comebacks in history! Stokes and Willis, enduring legends forever more!
Erm - think Botham had something to do with it.
@@iansadler4309 Yes he did indeed.... a wonderful innings!
@@iansadler4309 He did but his innings only gave England a small chance. If it wasn't for Willis' Superb bowling England would never have won. Also Chris old batting at 10 scored 29. Seeing as England only won by 18 runs, you could argue that it was Chris Old who was pivotal to the victory
I was in London glued to the TV for Botham's innings. As I remember it I was travelling up north the following day and had no idea what was happening. I suppose Aus. were still favourites. Then I arrived at my mum's house and heard it was all over. Amazing days.
RIP Bob. Legend of a player. Legend of a commentator. Legend of a man. Will be sorely missed.
Fantastic bowling, thanks Bob, such sad news
I had just started a job as a salesman visiting firms all over Liverpool when this Test was on. On the final day, I just sat in my car and listened to the cricket on the radio. I couldn't tear myself away from it I didn't last long in that job.
I was eleven and at the end of junior school back then. Beefy was my hero during my formative years!
Bob Willis ON FIRE 🔥🔥🔥
And look at the movement of that Gatting fellow😂
😊watched it with my late father great memory Bob was brilliant RIP and beefy what a player
Such a calm and humble cricketer is very rare indeed
I remember watching that live - one of the most amazing matches I have ever witnessed. This film brought back so many memories of that great England team. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing !
RIP Bob absolute legend
One Magic Summers Day in a different England.
is it though?
Its different alright
Remembering the great Bob Willis RIP big man.