Ray Illingworth - Return To The Fray

Return To The Fray

Leicestershire benefited from his return, winning four one day trophies and the County Championship in 1975. After announcing his retirement from the first-class game in 1978 he returned to Headingley to manage the Yorkshire team, despite his testy relationship with Geoff Boycott. In 1982, faced with an under-performing team on the field, he made a return to the playing arena and replaced Chris Old as captain. The side won the Sunday League in his final season in 1983 but failed in the championship, finishing bottom for the first time ever. The title of the book he wrote about this era was The Tempestuous Years.

He left Yorkshire in 1984 and carved out a successful career as a media pundit, often fiercely critical of the England Test team. Eventually he became the Chairman of England's Board of Test Selectors and the England Cricket Coach in 1997. He clashed with England captain Mike Atherton over team selection.

Read more about this topic:  Ray Illingworth

Famous quotes containing the words return to the, return to, return and/or fray:

    Yet I shall never return to the past, that attic.
    John Ashbery (b. 1927)

    Retirement requires the invention of a new hedonism, not a return to the hedonism of youth.
    Mason Cooley (b. 1927)

    Lise: Look, monsieur, I don’t know what type of girl you think I am, but I’m not. And now I would like to return to my friends.
    Jerry: I thought you were bored with them. You sure looked it.
    Lise: You should see me now.
    Jerry: Ouch.
    Alan Jay Lerner (1918–1986)

    To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast
    Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)