I trained with England when Dilley had a "fitness test". He jogged half way round the ground and said, "fuck it". I still wasn't selected! Tell you what though, stand next to him and he's one BIG fella.
His action led to a fair few injuries, plus the terribly harsh county cricket schedule, but he didn't do himself any favours by smoking, hence his lung cancer. Then again, so did Botham. Not a good example to the kids.
Still, he was quick when he wanted to be - probably hit 90mph on occasion.
@sangahow1 His action used to have an unusual pause at his delivery stride early on in his test career; he had to re-model it as it was injuring him, which he did. That's not easy for a fast bowler to do.
The coaches used to insist on sideways-on actions; mine was extremely side-on, with my back foot pointing towards mid on. The coaches loved it; I swung the ball away like mad, but it wasn't good for the body, with a big twist needed on delivery.
Dilley was so talented but was very unlucky with injuries. His outswinger was beautiful had he and Neil Foster stayed fit they could've been a formidable bowling partnership for England till the early nineties. A real match for the windies quicks if you throw Malcolm and Fraser into the equation as well.
Dilley's bowling action was sweet. He was no mug with the bat either! I'd just changed radio channels in the car & heard them talking about a cricketer in the past tense. Later, on cricinfo.com, I found out that G.R Dilley, one of my cricket heroes, had passed on. I'm still in shock. He'll be greatly missed.
Used to remember Dilley with his action and he dragged his back foot , very underrated player and superb competitor. Gave me a lot of pleasure watching him and thats all a sportsman can ask for , R I P big guy......
whenever i think of the 81 ashes i think about the role dilley played. agree with the comment that had be been looked after by Australians at the time things would have been better
@TheDin35h I was there when he accompanied Botham on that fateful 4th day in 1981 Ashes... - and as a fast bowler he was my hero and the guy I tried to emulate - I am typing this through tears now - lovely bloke too...
Dilley, when his rhythm was right, was a great sight to behold. Though you can't help feeling that he'd have been looked after better had he been born an Aussie. And therein lies a conundrum for England's administrators (and one they never seem to acknowledge - look at Simon Jones!): how do we look after our best and most rare athletes - the quicks? Any Australians out there, please let on!
Yup, agree with all that. I wonder why we're short of quicks, though - at least in the long term (things seem to be a bit bitter now than they were a few years back).
The pitches? If you listen to the likes of SGB,GLE, you hear him talking apout the lack of variety: Surrey loam on every ground. A bit beyond my knowledge, but I acknowledge English wickets are not fast and bouncy. Batsmen have the front foot law, appeals (arrggh!), and helmets to help them now.. But I suppose that is the same everywhere. Maybe it's because there are so many county games - quicks can't be quick and enduring.. ??
Not wrong madbob, particularly about the so called "journos". In most cases they're employed by the same bloke anyway who knows what sells papers, and it isn't "factual in depth research". Even b4 England's recent heroics a lot of us in Oz can see this Aussie team catching early flights home from the World Cup, watch the Aussie "hacks" turn on Punter and co. then as they did after Ashes 2005.
Maybe your press didn't come over in 86/87. They're not a great help to your blokes. And no one bounced the Windies because: a) it held the game up too long to find the ball in the carpark, and b) Viv would just say "Hey Joel (Or Malcolm, Michael, Andy, Curtly). That's him, that's the fool who bounced me"
PMSL, the Aussie hacks are no better. In 1986/7 England were a shocking side and Australia worse.Must've been ranked 6 or 7 in the test tables. Despite losing 5-0 England were still ranked 2nd having beaten everyone else.
Other than the comments about "can't bat bowl or field" England had a pretty good side in 86/87. Gower, Gatting, Lamb, Botham, Dilley, Emburey and Edmonds were the backbone for many years,
It was the untried openers and back up seamers that caused concern. Broad went on to be international player of trhe year (based on his 3 hundreds here), and Daffy and Small played for England for many more years.
They only missed Gooch
What ruined the team was the second rebel tour 2 years later.
I think I get it now. England without Botham (summer '86) = totally clueless. England with Botham (winter '86) = win everything. What a fat genius that man was.
Hmmmm...they couldnt bowl bouncers till only like 4 years ago. People wore helmets in the 90s though.(talkin about one dayers). I just guess the batsmen werent too worried those days about gettin hit.
RIP Graham Dilley
IanGorton 3 months ago
I trained with England when Dilley had a "fitness test". He jogged half way round the ground and said, "fuck it". I still wasn't selected! Tell you what though, stand next to him and he's one BIG fella.
His action led to a fair few injuries, plus the terribly harsh county cricket schedule, but he didn't do himself any favours by smoking, hence his lung cancer. Then again, so did Botham. Not a good example to the kids.
Still, he was quick when he wanted to be - probably hit 90mph on occasion.
TheExecutee 3 months ago
This is ripped from a popular BBC video released after England's successful 1986-87 your.
JasonRadley 4 months ago
He was great cricketer, very beautiful bowling action with rhythmatic run up. R.I.P. we miss you Dilley.
sangahow1 4 months ago
@sangahow1 His action used to have an unusual pause at his delivery stride early on in his test career; he had to re-model it as it was injuring him, which he did. That's not easy for a fast bowler to do.
The coaches used to insist on sideways-on actions; mine was extremely side-on, with my back foot pointing towards mid on. The coaches loved it; I swung the ball away like mad, but it wasn't good for the body, with a big twist needed on delivery.
Chest-on is healthier, if not as attractive.
TheExecutee 3 months ago
Thanks for the wonderful memories.Hope you get lots of wickets and runs in cricket heaven.
bengock2000 4 months ago
Golly that's a long run-up. RIP big fella
boscow 5 months ago
Dilley was so talented but was very unlucky with injuries. His outswinger was beautiful had he and Neil Foster stayed fit they could've been a formidable bowling partnership for England till the early nineties. A real match for the windies quicks if you throw Malcolm and Fraser into the equation as well.
bolivianex 5 months ago
I don't think Viv Richards ever wore a helmet even in test matches.
philj321 5 months ago
@philj321 Not sure if Richie Rich did either.
JasonRadley 4 months ago
Dilley's bowling action was sweet. He was no mug with the bat either! I'd just changed radio channels in the car & heard them talking about a cricketer in the past tense. Later, on cricinfo.com, I found out that G.R Dilley, one of my cricket heroes, had passed on. I'm still in shock. He'll be greatly missed.
muhideen 5 months ago
RIP Graham Dilley. That theme tune and those pyjamas really take me back to great childhood memories. What a player - sad news.
francisb1977 5 months ago
RIP
skanka4646 5 months ago
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R.I.P. Graham Dilley. Good cricketer, great man.
ash123431 5 months ago
Graham Dilley was one of the greats, and rightly deserves his place in cricketing history. RIP big fella.
BlueyM 5 months ago
Too young, sad news. RIP.
Gonzoidzz 5 months ago
R I P GRAHAM DILLEY
craigpaul69 5 months ago
RIP mate
LeamingtonSteve 5 months ago
Life is so unfair, all the good people go quickly, will always remember.
clarky00000 5 months ago in playlist Cricket
Very sad and shocking news. He was a charasmatic bowler. Life isn't fair.
dirkbogarde44 5 months ago
i am desperately sad that Graham Dilley has died. watching the man in this kind of form is like reading poetry. RIP
TheloniusBostik 5 months ago
I copied his run up back in the day. RIP
eydiot909 5 months ago
Rest in Piece Graham Dilley
bbssport 5 months ago
Used to remember Dilley with his action and he dragged his back foot , very underrated player and superb competitor. Gave me a lot of pleasure watching him and thats all a sportsman can ask for , R I P big guy......
royseahawks 5 months ago
So sad to hear about your demise, Dilley. (05-Oct-2011)
webspree 5 months ago
RIP Graham
StewartJor 5 months ago
RIP Graham Dilley, England fast bowler and partner of Ian Botham in a piece of Test Match history
johnnybriggs118 5 months ago
whenever i think of the 81 ashes i think about the role dilley played. agree with the comment that had be been looked after by Australians at the time things would have been better
WebVideosTV1 5 months ago
R.I.P. Graham Dilley
peterpetersbng 5 months ago
RIP, fine bowler who didn't play as much as he should have for England.
richarevans 5 months ago
RIP
sexyshazzam12 5 months ago
May He Rest in Peace
steveJ1957 5 months ago
A cracking bowler, RIP Graham Dilley.
waylonbuddy 5 months ago
RIP
watch529 5 months ago
Yep...RIP...thanks for the memories.
Riellysdad 5 months ago
RIP Graham
Carl43a 5 months ago
RIP Dilley. You will be missed.
ucbearkat 5 months ago
RIP
djw34 5 months ago
RIP Graham Dilley.
TheWillsy 5 months ago
the poor guy died today may his soul rest in peace
bilalchdutube 5 months ago
R.I.P Dilley
Jk41441 5 months ago
RIP GD too young
peterzed12 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RIP Graham Dilley
sturwin 5 months ago
RIP Graham Dilley. Unsung hero of the 1981 Ashes. Anyone else remember the famous scorecard: Lillee c Willey b Dilley ?? I still do.
TheDin35h 5 months ago
@TheDin35h I was there when he accompanied Botham on that fateful 4th day in 1981 Ashes... - and as a fast bowler he was my hero and the guy I tried to emulate - I am typing this through tears now - lovely bloke too...
offpatsmile 5 months ago
RIP Graham Dilley
SATULAL 5 months ago
RIP Quickie what a great bowler and man.
SharpCoupe 5 months ago 11
Viv Richards has the best walk of any cricketer,no human,in history
suffern63 6 months ago
Is that just me or is that a ridiculously long run up?
RobotNinjaShark09 11 months ago 2
he'd a quite long runup.....like waqar yunus, angus fraser & michael holding
TheSinnical 2 years ago
Dilley, when his rhythm was right, was a great sight to behold. Though you can't help feeling that he'd have been looked after better had he been born an Aussie. And therein lies a conundrum for England's administrators (and one they never seem to acknowledge - look at Simon Jones!): how do we look after our best and most rare athletes - the quicks? Any Australians out there, please let on!
ludocrat 4 years ago 8
@ludocrat
True, but it's also more than that - hungry quicks are thin on the ground in England. Injuries happen, but most teams have more choice to start with.
HengistTheGreat 2 years ago
@HengistTheGreat
Yup, agree with all that. I wonder why we're short of quicks, though - at least in the long term (things seem to be a bit bitter now than they were a few years back).
ludocrat 2 years ago
@ludocrat
The pitches? If you listen to the likes of SGB,GLE, you hear him talking apout the lack of variety: Surrey loam on every ground. A bit beyond my knowledge, but I acknowledge English wickets are not fast and bouncy. Batsmen have the front foot law, appeals (arrggh!), and helmets to help them now.. But I suppose that is the same everywhere. Maybe it's because there are so many county games - quicks can't be quick and enduring.. ??
HengistTheGreat 2 years ago
When fit and on form Dilley was quite effective. This tour was the highlight of his career
jnshakmaster 4 years ago
great footage of one of the fastest bowlers in english cricket. Thank-you
mgbgt1967 4 years ago
Not wrong madbob, particularly about the so called "journos". In most cases they're employed by the same bloke anyway who knows what sells papers, and it isn't "factual in depth research". Even b4 England's recent heroics a lot of us in Oz can see this Aussie team catching early flights home from the World Cup, watch the Aussie "hacks" turn on Punter and co. then as they did after Ashes 2005.
Doccaau 5 years ago
Maybe your press didn't come over in 86/87. They're not a great help to your blokes. And no one bounced the Windies because: a) it held the game up too long to find the ball in the carpark, and b) Viv would just say "Hey Joel (Or Malcolm, Michael, Andy, Curtly). That's him, that's the fool who bounced me"
Doccaau 5 years ago 4
PMSL, the Aussie hacks are no better. In 1986/7 England were a shocking side and Australia worse.Must've been ranked 6 or 7 in the test tables. Despite losing 5-0 England were still ranked 2nd having beaten everyone else.
madbob73 5 years ago
Other than the comments about "can't bat bowl or field" England had a pretty good side in 86/87. Gower, Gatting, Lamb, Botham, Dilley, Emburey and Edmonds were the backbone for many years,
It was the untried openers and back up seamers that caused concern. Broad went on to be international player of trhe year (based on his 3 hundreds here), and Daffy and Small played for England for many more years.
They only missed Gooch
What ruined the team was the second rebel tour 2 years later.
treevor921 2 years ago
I think I get it now. England without Botham (summer '86) = totally clueless. England with Botham (winter '86) = win everything. What a fat genius that man was.
ludocrat 5 years ago
@ludocrat Yeah the 1986/87 summer when England won everything. The Ashes The WSC and the B&H Perth Challenge
IanGorton 1 year ago
Helmets came around in the late '70s, with nearly everyone wearing them.
However several West Indians such as Richards and Richardson never wore them.
blairomatic 5 years ago
Everyone was a badass back in the day huh. No helmets
jamal22066 5 years ago
Bowlers couldn't bowl bouncers in those days in ODI's.
MHJanson 5 years ago 4
Hmmmm...they couldnt bowl bouncers till only like 4 years ago. People wore helmets in the 90s though.(talkin about one dayers). I just guess the batsmen werent too worried those days about gettin hit.
jamal22066 5 years ago
@MHJanson but they still took the risk against unintentional slippage ===badass confirmed
atsporty 1 year ago