Bob Willis-8-43 at Leeds in 1981 -Greatest bowling spell ever in 4th innings of a test match?

[Harsh Thakor]

Today we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the greatest test match ever in the history of Cricket, which had one of the greatest turnabouts in the history of sport. The 3rd test at Leeds from July 16-21st in 1981, between England and Australia was the equivalent of a Hollywood classic or epic novel. There could be rarely instances in the history of sport where such a miraculous turn of events took place or one felt the sensation of the intervention of the divine. This game set the tone of one of the most dramatic series ever in the history of the Ashes or Cricket itself.

 

On the 5th day morning ,England was dismissed for 357 and left Australia a target of a mere 130 runs to win. At 56-1 it looked a mere formality with Australia coasting home. However just on the brink of lunch Mike Brearley switched Bob Willis into the Kirkstall Lane end, which proved to be a master tactical move. In a few moment s the complexion of the game changed completely, like a new character giving a complete twist to a novel. Willis removed Trevor Chappell unable to fend of an unplayable lifting short ball, Kim Hughes caught in the slips to a rising ball and Graham Yallop brilliantly caught to a snorter at short leg. Rarely in cricket have I seen spirit of determination or single-mindedness scale such a height as in the spell of Bob Willis.

 

 

After Lunch Willis continued from where he left off, dismissing Rodney Marsh,John Dyson and Geoff Lawson,in quick succession. However the unforgettable moment was the dismissal of Chris Old of Border, who had him playing onto his stumps. Perhaps that was the major turning point of the game. At 75-8 Australia tenaciously fought back scoring 35 runs in 4 overs and it looked as the game again had a twist to the tale. It was then that Mike Gatting took a spectacular catch at mid on off Willis to dismiss Dennis Lillee.Finally Willis sealed a victory crashing through the gate of Ray Bright. Australia was dismissed for a score of 111, giving England an 18 run win. Never in history of cricket had a tem resurrected from the grave to reach such a pinnacle of glory.

Willis ended with figures of 8-43, with his spell ranking as arguably the best ever in defending a total. Rarely in cricket have I seen spirit of determination or single-mindedness scale such a height as in the spell of Bob Willis. The manner he thundered in simply told the story, as though he carried the entire fortunes of England on his shoulder. Rarely has any cricketer been in such a cocoon of concentration as Bob Willis that day or taken grit to such realms. When steaming in he looked as though the spirits possessed him, as though in a trance. Few pace bowlers ever banged the ball harder to extract bounce or exploit conditions so surgically on an untrue pitch, with uneven bounce.

 

A miracle had been pulled off and instead of celebrating Bob Willis ran to the pavilion, with spirit of fury and vengeance rarely seen in sport. Willis was furious with the media for belittling or writing him off and his charge was manifestation of his will to put the press in it's place. No man looked more as though he had fulfilled his thirst for vengeance.

The adulation in the crowds was so great as though they were witnessing a new epoch in history .Difficult to ever visualize such an elevation in the spirit of the entire nation as though a magical power had penetrated through it. The level of ecstasy and jubilation in the crowds traversed unprecedented magnitudes in sport.

 

 

In my analysis Bob Willis's effort was the bets ever spell by a pace bowler in a 4th innings in history of test cricket.

Edited July 21, 2021 by Harsh Thakor