The tall, right-arm pacer had claimed career-best figures of 8 for 43 in an 18-run win in that game, equally famous for Ian Botham's counter-attacking knock of 149*. Willis wrecked the entire middle-order, as the visitors crumbled from 59 for 2 to 111 bowled out in pursuit of 130.

He led England in 18 Tests, including the 1-2 defeat in Australia in 1982-83, though that win was a nail-biting three-run victory at Melbourne. Aside from that, he was also the captain when England hosted the World Cup for the third consecutive time in 1983, where they lost to the eventual winners India in the semi-final at Old Trafford. Before that, he was also a member of the side that lost the World Cup final to West Indies in 1979.

By the time Willis retired after the Headingley Test against West Indies in 1984, he had 325 Test wickets against his name at an average of 25.20. At that time, he was England's highest wicket taker in Tests, and behind only the great Australian Dennis Lillee in the world. In ODI cricket, Willis would finish with 80 scalps at 24.60, having started in 1973.

Post retirement, he took up a career in the media, working as an expert for Sky Sports.