He later went on to captain Somerset, where he is widely credited with developing the county into a hard-playing team, and helping to mould Viv Richards and Ian Botham into the successful players they became.

Close was also noted, as a batsman, for standing up to intimidatory bowling, letting the ball hit his unprotected torso rather than flinching.

[3] Rawdon had cricketing pedigree: Hedley Verity—an England international in the period before the Second World War, in which he was killed —grew up there, and the Verity family continued to live in the village.

[4] At Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School, Close was taught by Grace Verity, Hedley's sister, and he was friends with two of his children, Wilfred and Douglas.

A natural inside forward, he became the first Leeds player to feature as a youth international, when in October 1948, he played with England against Scotland at Pittodrie Park in Aberdeen.

[7] In February 1949, Close underwent a medical examination with the British Army, but due to an injury he had suffered playing football, his call-up was delayed by a few months, allowing him to continue into pre-season training with Yorkshire.

Ten days later, he was called to see Brian Sellers, a member of the Yorkshire committee, who reprimanded Close for his effrontery in not addressing an amateur player as "Mister".

[11][18] Close was then selected to play for England in the third Test match at Old Trafford against the touring New Zealanders; a decision praised by The Times, who described him as "a young all-round cricketer of such promise as to demand immediate encouragement.

"[19] In the match, Close became England's youngest Test player, aged 18 years and 149 days,[20] a record he still held at his death, and which was surpassed only in 2022.

[21] Close duly played two balls back to the bowler, then hit out for the boundary, only to be caught in the outfield for a score of nought.

[21] In his autobiography, I Don't Bruise Easily, his early Test call-up is described "an albatross round [his] neck", but Close later attributed this phrase to the book's shadow writer, Don Mosey.

[22] During the late-season Scarborough Festival, he became the youngest player to achieve the double, of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a single first-class season.

Showing the stubbornness that he later became famous for, Close played the rest of the game,[26] but by the time he reported back for duty the next day, it was badly swollen and painful.

After around six weeks, he travelled home on leave and got some heat treatment from the Leeds United physiotherapist, but there was little progress until just before Christmas, when another examination by the army revealed ossification of the thigh.

[30] His performances attracted the attention of the England cricket captain, Brown, who wanted Close to be included in the English party to tour Australia for the 1950–51 Ashes series.

However, his moment of glory also gave rise to controversy, when one pressman found out that Close was "confined to barracks" for disciplinary reasons at the time his call-up was announced: he had absented himself from an army cricket match.

[citation needed] After a reasonable start, making a century on his First Class debut in Australia, Close faltered, and then became injured, with a badly pulled groin muscle.

"[35] Later in Tasmania, Close was ordered to play despite doctor's advice to rest, and as he tried to nurse his injury he acquired a reputation for malingering and insubordination.

Several senior players left the club; Johnny Wardle, Yorkshire's top bowler and Close's preferred choice of captain, was sacked for disciplinary reasons.

[36] Close's attitude, in his own words, was that "I've always believed that the team is more important than the individual",[citation needed] and that credo stood Yorkshire in good stead.

[citation needed] Close was recalled to the England Test squad in 1963, and played his first full series of five matches, against the West Indies.

[40] When England were pressing for a last-day victory, Close took the battle to the fastest West Indian fast bowlers, Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, daring to advance down the wicket to them.

[citation needed] His shirtless torso, black and blue with bruises where he had been hit, made the front pages of the newspapers the next day.

Close did not help himself as he personally berated a Warwickshire spectator who he thought had called out something inopportune, though in the event he picked on the wrong man.

[citation needed] After being sacked by Yorkshire, the 39-year-old Close received offers from many other counties, including Lancashire, Glamorgan, Middlesex and Leicestershire.

[50] During his time at Somerset Viv Richards and Ian Botham joined the county squad, and Close's leadership and discipline helped them become great cricketers.

"[citation needed] With this innings of 20 runs off 108 balls in 162 minutes Close completed his Test career, under a vicious barrage, standing tall and taking the damage as he had against the West Indies at Lord's 13 years earlier.

[citation needed] By the time he retired from county cricket at the end of the 1977 season, Close had achieved folk hero status in Somerset.

According to Imran Khan, Close once stood his ground when fielding at short leg when a batsman played a pull shot, the ball hit him on the forehead, rebounded and was caught at cover.

"[55] In later years Close played an unnamed member of the crowd in a cricket match alongside Ray Illingworth, in an episode of the TV drama Heartbeat called "Stumped".