The time Willis denied Hadlee a century
New Zealand cricketing great Richard Hadlee still remembers the day Bob Willis got him out for 99.
Willis, who died yesterday aged 70, took 325 wickets during his test career, with Hadlee remembering one particular wicket during the infamous "sex, drugs and rock’n’roll tour’’ of 1984 with particular interest.
‘‘Off the field Bob was a character with a dry, deadpan sense of humour, but on the field he was very intense and competitive and never gave up – as I discovered to my cost when he nicked me out for 99 at Lancaster Park in 1984.’’
Fortunately for New Zealand, Hadlee had the last laugh, taking eight wickets in the match, including that of Willis in the second innings, as New Zealand won by an innings and 132 runs.
Hadlee scored two test centuries in his career, one before the 99, and one after.
Hadlee said Willis was one of the best fast bowlers of that era.
‘‘Bob was the archetypal fastbowler: big, tall, aggressive – very quick and extremely competitive. As a batsman, you knew you were in a contest when you were facing Bob; he just kept coming at you.’’
Hadlee said Willis’ unique style and superb record made him a standout of his time.
‘‘He had one of the longest
Bob Willis’ England career, 1971-1984:
Test
■ Tests: 90
■ Wickets: 325
■ Bowling average: 25.20
■ Best bowling (match): 9/92
■ Captaincy record: 7 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses
One-day internationals
■ Matches: 64
■ Wickets: 80
■ Bowling average: 24.60
■ Best bowling: 4/11
■ Captaincy record: 16 wins, 13 losses run-ups in international cricket – a long, angled approach that brought him to the wicket upright and front-on, and perfectly balanced to bowl with the signature pace and bounce for which he was renown.
‘‘For Bob to have taken 325 wickets at 25.20 in 90 tests tell us all we need to know about his ability and his impact. He was one of a select group of bowlers who had reached the 300-mark at that point – it was a very significant milestone.’’