Edgbaston turned blue on day two of the first Ashes Test, with both England and Australia players sporting the colour to support a noble cause. Earlier, on the opening day, the players and the match officials were spotted wearing black armbands.
On Day 2, along with players, the spectators were also encouraged to wear a splash of blue. This was to pay tribute to the late England great Bob Willis, who picked 325 wickets in 90 Tests. Edgbaston was Willis’ domestic home for the most of his career and it also hosted five games he played in, including the famous 1981 fourth Ashes Test.
Willis passed away due to prostate cancer in December 2019 at the age of 70. Later, Bob Willis Fund was established in his name by wife Lauren Clark and his brother David to fund research into the illness and raise awareness.
The first “Blue for Bob” event took place at Edgbaston during the one-day international match between England and Pakistan in the summer of 2021. The second annual event was held last year during the rescheduled fifth Test between England and India.
Over the course of the initial two years, a total of over £800,000 has been raised for the cause.
Edgbaston turns #BlueForBob 🔵
A great cause and a truly great man 💙https://t.co/dCCj1QWMYS pic.twitter.com/UlfmOQqOQH
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 17, 2023
It's #BlueForBob at Edgbaston today. If you're attending, remember to wear a splash of blue.
Show your support for @bobwillisfund. 💙#Edgbaston | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7DRfI3sSJm
— Edgbaston Stadium (@Edgbaston) June 17, 2023
“I’ve been totally bowled over by the generosity of the public. I never thought when we started this two years ago, we would be standing here having raised more than £800,000 in Bob’s memory,” Clarke was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.
“A huge thanks go to our partners, particularly Sky, the ECB and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, which was home to Bob for so long,” she added.
Talking more about Willis, his best bowling figures came in the 1981 Ashes Test at Headingley where he picked 8 wickets for 43 runs to dismantle Australia and win the game for the home team.
Following his retirement in July 1984, he transitioned into a role of a Sky Sports analyst, delighting viewers with his sharp and witty analysis of the game.
