Brian Close 1931-2015

http://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/4166/yorkshire-mourns-the-death-of-former-captain-brian-close


RIP

A former England captain, who braved Holding and co, plus a former professional Footballer .

RIP

He was 45 when called up to face the Windies in 1976, 27 years after his first test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60GAhXvU90k

http://images.ncrcricket.com/2013/06/Brian-Close.jpg

RIP Brian Close - a true Yorkshireman known for not flinching no matter what the threat to life and limb.  

I remember the embattled atmosphere around England's team at the time Close was recalled.  Close - approaching his fifties - would have been facing the world's fastest and most hostile bowling, with protective equipment considerably inferior to what is around today.

The sort of fellow you'd have liked to have next to you in the trenches , I think.

Could be a bit blunt , even to management , from all accounts ; or he might have played more Tests. A decent innings , at 84 ; though he was such a tough old bird I always assumed he'd make 100.

RIP

The first sportsman of my lifetime who, if he hadn't actually existed, would have been found in the pages of Hotspur or Wizard.

Apart from his myriad cricketing exploits, and his dabbling in pro football, sufficiently ambidextrous so that, legend would have it, he'd throw the ball in over the stumps from the boundary with either arm, play low handicap golf from either side, plus a top leader and mentor. Looking forward to Botham remembrances.

I like the Michael Vaughan note about the time he sought out help from Close, then in his sixties, on Vaughan's propensity for being out lbw:
"Came into the nets and batted without pads: 'Only way young man you will solve your problem'".

An immensely brave player, near to the wicket in the field and at the crease. Brian Close earned respect from all quarters in facing up to two ferocious West Indies attacks. Hall and Griffiths in '63 and the 13 years later at the age of 45 Holding, Roberts and Daniel.

Besides being one of Yorkshire's own, he also did a fine job in skippering Somerset in the '70s. As Kwini alludes to, played a significant part in Botham's early development.

[PS Kwini - awaiting your Ron Springett tribute on the football thread.]

(Sorry to read that, guildford, Springett was an unsung great of the early sixties, but his work will always be in the fine print compared to the legend of Gordon Banks. Nice that he was able to receive his World Cup medal before leaving the net for the last time.)

alfie wrote:

Could be a bit blunt , even to management , from all accounts ; or he might have played more Tests.   A decent innings, at 84 ; though he was such a tough old bird I always assumed he'd make 100.

RIP

With Boycott & Close among those on the Yorks scene there was I recall a fair amount of strife from time to time in the Yorks ranks! Some fairly cussed Yorkshire characters didn't mince their words....

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:

alfie wrote:

Could be a bit blunt , even to management , from all accounts ; or he might have played more Tests.   A decent innings, at 84 ; though he was such a tough old bird I always assumed he'd make 100.

RIP

With Boycott & Close among those on the Yorks scene there was I recall a fair amount of strife from time to time in the Yorks ranks! Some fairly cussed Yorkshire characters didn't mince their words....

Corporal - very much so. Illingworth and Sharpe were others who moved on like Close.

There was a decade from the late 60's, when everyone who played for Yorkshire (with one or two, literally, exceptions) had to be born there, that you could easily compile a team of ex-Yorkies that would have beaten their County side. Think Close and Illingworth left in (large?) part so that they could skipper their chosen county.