18 Facts you need to know about Brian Close the bravest cricketer ever

18 Facts you need to know about Brian Close the bravest cricketer ever: Whenever someone takes the name of the former English cricketer Brian Close, we get resounding images of a middle-aged bald-headed player who is epitomized as the most courageous player to have played the sport. But the story of Brian Close was not only restricted to his bravado as he was a prodigal talent with the bat and ball as well. He was a left-handed batsman who used to bowl right-handed. Brian’s defense was immaculate while he was an enthralling prospect when it came to attacking the bowler. As a bowler he used to bowl medium-pace as well as off-spin.

Brian Close represented the three lions in 22 Test and scored 887 runs at an average of 25.34 with 4 fifties. While with the ball, he scalped 18 wickets. He also played 3 ODI matches for England and accumulated 49 runs at an average of 16.33. His numbers are no way near his meticulous talents but yet he occupies a special place in the hearts of millions which is beyond anything.

Today, in memory of this brave cricketer we list 18 Facts you need to know about Brian Close:

1. Birth:

Brian Close was born on 24 February, 1931 in Rawdon, Leeds, Yorkshire. Close was the second eldest of five boys and a girl born to Harry and Esther Close.

2. School:

At school, Brian was an athletic sportsman but most importantly a brilliant cricketer. At the age of only 11, he joined Rawdon Cricket Club in 1942. His dazzling performances earned him a chance to play for the Under-18 side and for the Second XI.

3. Meticulous student:

Close was as meticulous in academics as he was in sports during his schooling days. The Headmaster of his school had once said that if Close was not a sportsman then he could have been accepted into Cambridge or Oxford Universities as well. There was a time when he seriously considered becoming a Doctor.

4. Love affair with Football:

He loved playing Football as well and was even selected and was the first ever Leeds player to play international football at youth level. In 1948, he represented England against Scotland at Pittodrie Park in Aberdeen.

5. Youngest English Test cricketer:

In 1949 against New Zealand in Manchester, he became the youngest ever English cricketer to represent the three lions. He made his international debut when he was only 18 years and 149 days old.

6. Prolific first season:

He completed the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in his very first season as a First-Class cricketer.

7. Yorkshire Hero:

Close was an inspirational skipper for Yorkshire in County cricket. Under his excellent leadership, Yorkshire won as many as four County Championship titles in 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1968 respectively.

8. Insane bravery on West Indies tour of 1976:

Brian got national call-up in 1976 when he was 45 years old. Even the best cricketers of that time use to get goose bumps at the thought of facing the deadly West Indian pace bowling which had the likes of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel in its rank. He not only faced them without helmet and all but he didn’t mind when several deliveries hit him. Close use to let the ball hit his unprotected torso rather than flinching. His physical toughness is legendary indeed. Once he had famously said that “How can the ball hurt you? It’s only on you for a second” which is a fair reflection of his life on the 22 yards.

9. Great Captaincy record:

The English southpaw was not only a successful skipper at domestic level but even for the English side he was exceptional. He got to captain England in 7 Tests and under his captaincy the team won 6 matches while one match ended in draw.

10. Relationship with Viv Richards and Ian Botham:

After his successful stint with Yorkshire, he went on to play for the Somerset side. Those who saw him at Somerset believed that he was the cog-wheel behind the side becoming a tough nut to crack in domestic circuit. He played a key role in shaping the careers of legendary cricketers Viv Richards and Ian Botham.

 11. Exemplary Short-leg fielder:

Close was one of the most daring short-leg fielders cricket has ever seen. There was nothing like fear in him while fielding at a position which not everyone likes due to the risk of injury attached to the position. Once a ball struck him directly on the head and it flew to cover. Instead of complaining about the painful blow he asked “Have you caught that?”

12. Controversies:

Close always found himself in the middle of controversies. Even when he got selected for his first international cricket tour in 1950, he was serving a “confined to barracks” punishment during his military service. He was sacked as England skipper for time-wasting, and his attitude towards ODI cricket also attracted him many detractors. When he toured apartheid South Africa and white-minority-controlled Rhodesia with private teams, then it also became a big controversy.

13. Coaching:

In his seventies, Close coached Yorkshire and on few occasions he even captained County’s Colts XI. He held a very strained relationship with Yorkshire star cricketer and captain Geoffrey Boycott.

14. Autobiography:

In 1978, he launched his very own Autobiography namely “I Don’t Bruise Easily.”

15. President of Yorkshire:

He served as the President of Yorkshire club between 2008 and 2010.

16. Long cricket career:

Brian’s international career spanned for 26 years 356 days. He has the second longest international cricket career till date, the list is topped by Wilfred Rhodes of England.

17. Domestic career in numbers:

Close played 786 First-Class matches and scored 34,994 runs while with the ball he grabbed 1,171 scalps. He also took 813 catches and was also involved in a stumping as a Wicket-keeper. He also featured in 164 List-A matches and scored 3458 runs while he took 66 wickets with the ball in hand.

18. Death:

On 13 September 2015, Brian Close died at the age of 84 at his home near Bradford.