With his long run up, a sprint across 30 yards, Bob Willis offered a compelling sight with the ball in hand. A relentless fighter, Willis fought his way back after suffering a severe knee injury. He had put in the extra yards at training just to keep fit and he displayed a remarkable work ethic to do so for more than eight years.

His most memorable triumph on the field came in the 1981 Ashes when England fought back after having followed on to sketch one of the most remarkable victories. Willis, along with Botham, was the chief architect of that win. His eight wickets in the fourth innings that helped England defend a paltry total is a part of cricketing folklore.

Willis also led England for a span of two years with mixed success and as with many other greats in cricket, his downfall was one of the more grim moments for any cricket fan. He remains though as England's only truly world class fast bowler during his time.

Willis then made the jump to commentary like many of his peers. He quickly gained a reputation of being one of the harshest critics of players and the modern game. He was pushed out of the first choice commentary panel in 2006 but still remains active in the circuit without ever compromising on his opinions.

By Ganesh Chandrasekaran