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Robert Elliot Story Wyatt Back to Bodyline (Players Index)

 

Born 1901, Milford Surrey - Died 1995, Helston, Cornwall

Played for: - Warwickshire, Worcestershire and England

 

Bob Wyatt lived in retirement in Cornwall until his death in 1995 at the age of 94. He was the cousin of Member of Parliament Woodrow Wyatt, he was a great all-round player, capable of scoring runs, his fielding exemplary and his strong beliefs in and out of the game were admired.

 

He preferred to open the batting, but played most of his career as a solid middle-order batsman who occasionally bowled his medium-paced swing at unsuspecting batsmen! He lived for the game and stood for it's great values, a true gentleman, always spending hours studying all aspects of the game both physical and scientific. Wyatt had the honour of captaining every side he played for, including Warwickshire, Worcestershire and of course his Country - England.

 

Always one to encourage his bowlers and batsmen, Wyatt would always in great length, tell each player what his thoughts were and how they fitted into the master plan of the attack or defence at any particular time in the game. His first senior tour came in 1926/7 when he travelled to India with the MCC, but his first cap was earned when he toured South Africa a year later in 1928/9.

On their return tour, Wyatt scored his first century against South Africa at Old Trafford (113) in 1929. He then toured the West Indies in 1929/30 with limited success, but the first controversy in his career occurred in 1930 when he replaced Percy Chapman as England Captain at the Oval for the 5th Test. For the record, he made 64 and England lost the game.

 

Chapman then regained the captaincy and Wyatt toured under him as Vice Captain on England's tours of South Africa and Australia (under Douglas Jardine) the following year. After returning home from the Bodyline series, he regained the captaincy against a touring Australian side in 1934; the West Indies and South Africa (1935), unfortunately against very strong sides, England lost all three series.

 

Scoring over 1,000 runs in a season 18 times (reaching 2,000 5 times) he was a consistent scorer. Wyatt was not in favour of Bodyline bowling, but ever the gentleman he was, supported his Captain fully and without question; well nearly.

 

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