Kapil Dev on Thursday (5 Decemeber) said that Bob Willis was a “terror to face,” as the former India skipper remembered the England fast bowler who recently passed away at the age of 70. Kapil then went on to reveal that Willis was the only one to ever hit him with the ball.
“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,” the right-hand batsman told The Hindu about the incident which happened in a Test match in England.
While paying his tribute to the Englishman whose death was announced on Wednesday, the 60-year-old said, “Willis was a terrific fast bowler, with a run-up that was unique. Not a fluent run-up but once the ball left his hand it was terror for the batsman.”
“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,” he added.
The right-arm pacer Willis played in 90 Tests, taking 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.
(With AFP inputs)
