The expendables of international cricket

Brian Close – Brian Close was touted to be England’s post-war batting hero – a man with a big bat and a bigger heart. But despite the immense promise he displayed for Yorkshire, none of that translated to the big stage as, when his Test career appeared to have ended in 1967, he had gone 18 years with a single half-century.

5 years later at the age of 41, he was called up to the England ODI team for the first ever ODI series after the successful launch of the format a year before. He flattered none and was expected to have been consigned to the dustbins of history after the series ended.

Four years later, he was back in the England test squad at the age of 45 facing up to what was probably the fiercest bowling attack of all-time. The West Indies had Tony Greig’s men grovelling but Close clung on to his pride as he took blows to the body throughout the series without an ouch and made a well-fought 60 at Lord’s – his highest score in Tests.