Brian Close: One of English cricket’s most colourful characters – Almanack

Brian Close was one of the most colourful and enduring characters in English cricket. His fame extended to featuring in an Eric Morecambe one-liner, yet he achieved recognition without coming near to fulfilling the potential that in 1949 had made him, aged 18, England’s youngest player. Close played in 22 Tests over 27 years (and four decades) with only modest results – but he was proof that some cricketers are far more than the sum of their statistics.

At times his ability as an all-rounder, his outstanding record as a captain, and the store of anecdotes he inspired, were lost amid awestruck admiration for his courage against fast bowling or in the field, close to the bat. It was his reckless bravery that inspired Morecambe’s joke about the return of summer being signalled by “the sound of leather on Brian Close”. When he died, the wince-inducing footage of his encounter with the West Indies pace attack at Old Trafford in 1976 was shown so frequently it was easy to overlook the fact that he led Yorkshire to four County Championships, had a successful spell as England captain, and enjoyed a late-career renaissance at Somerset as a growling but kindly mentor to Ian Botham and Viv Richards.

There were as many stories about his driving as his cricket. He would study form in the Sporting Life in the fast lane of a motorway, or ask his passenger to lean over and take over the steering while he poured a mug of tea. Cartwright recalled going into Taunton one morning to see Close’s car perched on top of a hedge; he had been leaning across to grab a portable radio while negotiating a bend. His career had one more improbable twist. In 1976, Tony Greig was looking to stiffen England’s spine for the series against West Indies and, aged 45, Close was recalled. “It’s the first year I haven’t put the Test dates in my diary,” he said. He did well in the middle order at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, but at Old Trafford was asked to open with John Edrich, aged 39. On the Saturday evening they were caught in one of Test cricket’s most notorious passages of play, as Andy Roberts, Wayne Daniel and Michael Holding bowled with unrelenting hostility on a cracked pitch. Close took several blows on the body, buckled at least once, but refused to show any pain. Richards, his Somerset protege, was fielding close to the bat. “Are you OK, skipper?” he asked, only to be told to “fuck off”. Somehow the pair survived for 80 minutes. Close was one not out.

He did not play for England again, and retired at the end of the following season. Only Wilfred Rhodes had a longer Test career span than his 27 years, and in first-class cricket his total of 813 catches is bettered by just four men. Yet a wistfulness lingered. “Of all the players who were around at that time, his career was the most disappointing,” said Insole, who had captained Cambridge on Close’s Yorkshire debut. “He had more ability in every aspect of the game.”

Close, Dennis Brian, CBE, died on September 14, 2015, aged 84.