Brian Close, the bravest cricketer to have ever graced the game

Brian Close seen fielding at short leg during a 1976 Test, Gordon Greenidge lying on the ground after having hit a 6

In a sport like cricket, where batsmen constantly fear the dreaded bouncers and beamers from fast bowlers, even after protecting themselves with helmets, Dennis Brian Close played test cricket fearlessly during the time when there were no helmets for batsmen. The former English captain, who died on Sunday, was often widely considered to be the bravest cricketer to have ever played test cricket.

Brian Close received many blows to his body while batting and fielding for Yorkshire and England during his brief career. Close was seen fielding at forward short-leg most of his career and often encouraged his teammates when they were hit by the ball. "How can the ball hurt you? It's only on you for a second", he used to say.

Close was known for his brave manner during batting, sometimes charging down the wicket, an instance of which was when he had walked down the pitch at Lord’s to Charlie Griffith and Wes Hall, and let the ball hit him. This was Close’s way of preventing himself from being dismissed leg before – he went on to score 70 in that particular match.

In yet another instance during a test match against the mighty West Indian bowling attack, Close who was then 38, with no helmet, no chest protector, no forearm guard, just gloves and a bat, was constantly struck with bouncers by Michael Holding, yet did not budge and continued to stay his ground, and managed to score a solitary run, at the end of the session.

‘We all knew it hurt him but nobody was brave enough to mention it’

While fielding at forward short-leg too, he was the same brave man. Most cricketers, when faced by Sir Garfield Sobers’ hook shot, would flinch, even if they wore a helmet, but Close, who stood at short-leg, watched the ball, caught it and led his team to victory by an innings, in one of the tests.

Close’s bruises and wounds were very much visible to his fellow teammates in the dressing room, knowing very well he was hurt badly. But Close never complained. His friend and former teammate Geoff Cope recalls, “We all knew it hurt him, but nobody was brave enough to mention it!”

The Englishman even briefly had a shot at captaincy. He captained England in seven test matches, winning six and drawing one.

Close was known to be an all-rounder and also played football for Bradford City, Leeds United and Arsenal as a centre-forward who powered his way past defenders before heading over the bar. He even tried his hand at Golf and succeeded at it. For such a tremendous Sportsman, it seems fear was never a part of his largely valiant life.