BOB WOOLMER (1948-2007) : REST IN PEACE

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."

BOB WOOLMER : REST IN PEACE

1948 - 2007




Death may be the essential condition of life, but its suddenness can shock and benumb feelings. Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. The sudden death of Bob Woolmer has sent shivers down my spine at the very least and has stun the cricketing world. IndianWatchdogs.com offers its sincerest and deepest condolences to Bob Woolmer's family and his near and dear ones for his unfortunate and untimely death. Despite the extenuating circumstances surrounding his death, Bob Woolmer's sudden departure reminds us that death does not favour anyone.

Bob Woolmer was born in Kanpur, UP, India in 1948. Born in Kanpur, India. There was never a doubt about his future career. His father put a bat and ball in his cot and at 3, he made his home debut in the back garden. At 11, he watched Hanif Mohammed score 499 for Karachi. At 20, he made his debut for Kent. The score book says 50 not out.



In 1970/71, he has his first experience of playing and coaching in South Africa. The very next year, he made his international debut for England. He gets picked for the WC 1975 squad but he manages to break his hand the day before the tournament starts. He is left to do the 12th man duties.

Woolmer is selected as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year in 1976 to recognise his growing credentials.

But Woolmer’s international career stalled after he joined the World Series Cricket break-away group run by Kerry Packer. Though he appeared intermittently in the Test team up to 1981, he never recaptured the form of the mid 1970s.

He retired from First Class cricket, and emigrated to South Africa the next year, teaching at high schools and coaching cricket and hockey in disadvantaged areas. In 1991, he is appointed Director of Coaching at Warwickshire CCC. He is in the dressing room when Brian Lara scores 501* to break Hanif’s record. It makes him one of very few people to have seen both innings live. South Africa wins 73% of its one-day internationals, and 10 out of 15 Test series during his reign between 1995 and 1999. Woolmer leaves the job after South Africa fails to make the World Cup final by 0.1 of run .

In 2005, he is appointed the coach of Pakistan ' and I’m still standing! That's what his website states though sadly it would need to reflect the tragic change in events.

Cricinfo wrote:

As a coach, his pioneering use of computers to show, for example, where opposing batsmen scored their runs may have stemmed from an experience of his own, batting against Mike Brearley’s Middlesex. “Knowing I liked the cover-drive, he had Mike Selvey bowling at me wide of off stump, with two slips and two gulleys. In 45 minutes, I scored 12. Then I chased another wide one from Selvey and was caught at second slip.” In the 1996 World Cup, Graeme Hick was a notable victim of Woolmer’s computer-based analysis, which revealed that if Hick could be kept scoreless for a spell, he tended to flick an off-stump ball in the air to midwicket. The trap was sprung by Fanie de Villiers, and Brian McMillan took the catch.

It's a tragic end to a truly remarkable man, who did justice to his potential and coaching commitments. Pakistan's shock exclusion from the World Cup is dwarfed by the death of Bob Woolmer. He was a gentleman and fronted a very professional self at all times. The world is a sadder place without him. The cricketing world has lost a great cricketing brain. Cricket is poorer by his death.

Bob Woolmer ' May your soul rest in peace.


- Ranja,
Editor, www.IndianWatchdogs.com

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