Ray Illingworth RIP

[mrcoke]

Great all-rounder. 

A Mr Consistently like another Ray recently departed Ray Kennedy. 

We also lost another great cricketer of the same era Ted Dexter this year, but there couldn't be two more opposites. Dexter was cavalier,  extrovert,  exciting at times, but actually didn't win a lot.

Illingworth was quiet,  deep, almost boring at times but achieved an awful lot. Hugely successful as a player with Yorkshire winning many Championships, then successful for Leicestershire.  Played and captained England like Dexter but probably his greatest achievement was leading the team a winning the Ashes.

One of those sportsmen like Matthews who let his performances on the field do all the talking.

[partickpotter]

Yes RIP to a giant of the English game.

He did just about everything; playing, coaching, administrator, commentator.

[Gods]

He was quiet but he was a typical Yorkshireman in that he could not have had a higher opinion of himself if he tried! Never to my knowledge ever admitted to being wrong about anything.

Nothing wrong with that though I suppose though.

RIP Ray Illingworth

[mrcoke]

The Independent has done a good obituary which is an interesting read for those not familiar with his career. He really packed a lot in:

www.independent.co.uk/obituaries/ray-illingworth-dead-cricket-england-b1982339.html

As for his character, he had to stand up to people like Close , Boycott, Trueman and others.

I married a Yorkshire lass. She keeps me grounded. She could give Brian Clough lessons in bluntness! 

[Okie Stokie.]

R.I.P.

[woodstein]

Rip Ray. He supported the best team in nearby Bradford - Park Avenue!