http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/34244820 Yet another legend sadly passes away. Remember Brian with great respect,facing upto fast,intimidating bowling in 60's and 70's.No helmets in those days RIP Brian
He really was a legend, he not only stood up to the Windies, he actually let the ball bounce off his chest. It MUST have hurt, but you'd never know it, he didn't even flinch! All you youngsters that never saw him, you missed a treat! RIP Brian!
As brave as a lion and as tough as nails, who can ever forget his willingness, nay enthusiasm, to field at silly-mid-on, about 2 yards from the bat, without any sort of protection, quite prepared, quite literally, to take it on the chin. Big man at a time when big men were needed. RIP
I'm amazed that he only played 20 test matches, and only captained in seven of those. Considering the length of his career and his legendary reputation I would have expected him to have played far more than that for his country. RIP, they don't make em like that anymore
Never gave it a thought Munky, though he finished up down here in Somerset, perhaps I should change it to a bottle of Thatcher's ( :emoticon-0119-Puke ) cider!
Played in the era of my cricketing heroes - Cowdrey, Graveney, D'Olivera, Barrington, Underwood, Snow, Knott etc...... A true legend.
In the era of no body protection he was immense. Was lucky to go to the Oval for a match against the Windies. He let the ball strike his body repeatedly, then looked at Hall and Griffiths as much as to say "is that all you've got". I remember the photo of the bruises in the newspapers the next day. RIP Brian.
One of my favourite stories of him :- He was fielding close in as usual, and the batsmen swiped the ball, which hit him on the leg, and the ball bounced off and was caught in the slips. After the days play a woman commented on this and said to him, "What if the ball had hit you in the head?", "Well, then, tha batsmen would have been caught at cover!"
