Fire in Babylon - Michael Holding vs Brian Close

Excerpt from Fire in Babylon. After Tony Grieg's statement of "making the West Indies Grovel", the West Indies unleashed a tirade of fierce bowling. This is Michael Holding bowling to Brian Close. Ending of the clip shows the battered and bruised body of Brian Close after the game

[tatipereira-hughes]

Now thats hard as nails. Facing the 'whispering death' without a helmet and standing his ground showing no pain. They don't make em like that no more!

[hasankhan]

Respect for this man. How brave and fearless he was. RIP

[floydist]

RIP Brian.  Definitely one of the most courageous players ever to have graced cricket!

[AndrewofWare]

RIP Brian. One of the bravest and most fearless ever. I watched it on tele - and then cringed when I saw the newspaper photographs the day after.

[gorgen]

This is so inspirational to watch. Total strength and bravery.Brian you are as tough as they come! Hats off to you, I've never ever seen anything like it.if only all cricketers could watch this miniute clip I'm sure they'd realise how spoilt and lucky they are. These guys would've got paid pittance for this extreme act of sporting bravery.

[underscoreslashyoutubaliga]

A prime example why it is always good to be humble and not speak out of arrogance. Pride comes before the fall. Literally and metaphorically. This is an emphatic showcase of bowling at it's pinnacle and arrogance being re-adjusted. Holding didn't yell or scream or give long dramatic glances down the pitch. He just simply bowled the ball with extreme pace and devastation.

[MrDavidht]

Brian Close and Michael Holding became great friends and shared a passion for horse racing. Holding went to see Close just before he died. A big man in every sense of the word much wronged by the English cricket establishment and Londoncentric press. I never heard him complain.

[babiscar]

show this to anyone who says cricket is a sissy's sport

[Henry-fdet]

RIP Brian Close. Most modern cricketers, and people in general, barely know the meaning of the words tough or brave, whereas Brian Close epitomises them. As an Aussie I love nothing more than hating poms but I've got nothing but respect for anyone who puts in performances like that.

[Ernest_Thesiger]

Two things worth pointing out:

1 - Brian Close was 45 here.

2 - 1:12 That photo is from after the Lord's Test in 1963. Apparently Wes Hall gave him those bruises.

[SylentEcho]

Cricket was such a rough game, back then. You had to be brutal and show no pain in order to survive. Look at his face after the ball hits him in the side. He's flinching, but walking upright to show the bowler no fear. Can't say I miss stuff like this, but I do miss reverse swing and bats not being made with sweet spots in the middle. Cricket is much more interesting when bowlers can menace the batsmen, unlike today.

[WarriorsSon]

David Close was a legend. A pity most of this cricket watching generation from the last 25 years don't even know his name. The toughest batsmen England ever produced.

[foxyjazzbopper]

Close was a giant of a player….. real old school…. No helmet but got right behind the ball…. The fact he never took his eyes off the ball allowed him to swerve out ofHoldings bouncer…. Can you imagine the courage it would have taken to face Holding at his peak bowling like this… respect.. The Late Great Brian Close🫡

[metalandbeer]

Being Indian, I can tell you this was the greatest team that ever played cricket! West Indies

[rsmanicrichapp]

Tremendous video clip of the gutsy England batsman Brian Close facing fire in the form of quickie Holding of West Indies.

[JP]

Brian Close was probably the most under rated cricketer to have played for England in recent (50) years. This innings is a prime example of that. It must be remembered that Tony Greig asked him to open the innings (something he hadn't done for nearly 10 years), was the last hour and a quarter of the day - so England were only interested in preserving their wickets and The West Indies bowlers were bowling 'flat out' . Looking at the record books England managed to end the day 22-0 - so actually Brian Close did everything asked of him. His Test Match record may not look so good - but being constantly 'picked' and subsequently dropped by the selectors meant that he probably didn't play for England during his prime.

[simsim]

In the old time cricket was not like a game but the fight/war

[fralust]

Yes, Close was apparently from the Trueman/Illingworth/Boycott school of

And yes, M.A. Holding is a joy to watch in this of course you're a gruff, tough Northerner.

[Jomy.chacko]

the Virat Kohlis, Steven Smith s, Joe root, kane Williamson's who ever think tht they r the best batsmen ... U guys r playing cricket in an era were the r hardly any genuine good bowlers, flat pitches , n batsmen friendly rules ...

[lidplyrps]

Before the formidable windies team of 70 's and 80's the team of the previous era was of more gentle nature and played with style and grace. The English couldn't take it losing to them and targeted them with aggressive tactics. When the following tours came over Clive Lloyd decided to give some back and bought in more aggressive players to combat fire with fire. Added to that political and civil unrest the games took on a different level of importance.
The Windies wiped the floor with the English and although it was unfortunate that certain individuals bore the brunt of that aggression it's unfair to demonise the windies players as being the only aggressors.
They all knew what was happening and just because the Windies did it better and took it to another level all of a sudden some people chose to label them that way.