A player not renowned for his batting - his highest score was 28* from his 128 Test innings - England quick Bob Willis took the definition of not being able to hold a bat to a whole new level when he walked out to the middle without his bat during the 1981 Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Clearly knowing something was amiss - he checked his gloves and pads several times en route to the crease - it wasn't until he was ready to take guard that he knew he'd left his bat in the dressing room. When a batsman bats through an innings unbeaten he is said to have carried his bat. However, in this instance, Willis had done very much the opposite yet he had the last laugh in the series as England won the urn and he recorded his best Test figures of 8-43 in a famous victory at Headingley.
