Ian Botham

England|Allrounder
Ian Botham
INTL CAREER: 1976 - 1992
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Full Name

Ian Terence Botham

Born

November 24, 1955, Oldfield, Heswall, Cheshire

Age

68y 116d

Also Known As

Sir Ian Botham

Nicknames

Beefy, Both, Guy

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Fast medium

Playing Role

Allrounder

Height

6ft 2in

Education

Buckler's Mead Secondary School, Yeovil

RELATIONS

(son)

Other

Commentator

Dominant and domineering, Ian Botham was not merely the top English cricketer of the 1980s but the leading sports personality. In an era of discreet footballers - before Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham - he commanded endless newspaper headlines as his career surged improbable heights and bottomless depths. Within a year of being elevated from Somerset to his England debut in 1977, he was undisputed as the country's leading allrounder; within three years he was captain; within four, he had resigned (a minute before being sacked), his form shot to pieces.

Then began the most famous few weeks in English cricket history when Botham (under Mike Brearley's captaincy) led England to an astonishing Ashes victory with three performances - two with bat, one with ball - of mystical brilliance. Every one led to victory and among them they caused a boom in support for English cricket that reverberated through the decade. By the end of it, sober judges were wondering if Botham had done more harm than good by making all England believe, as he did, that cricket matches are won by inspiration not preparation.

Though he remained an international cricketer until 1992, the great days became fewer. As his weight increased, his outswing became less effective. He could still hit a cricket ball with enormous power, but never once did he pass the ultimate exam of his era: scoring a Test century against the West Indians. Still, he could be mystical. Banned by insistent newspaper demand in 1986 for taking cannabis, he was recalled at The Oval against New Zealand, and with his first and 12th balls took the two wickets he needed to equal and pass Dennis Lillee's then-world record of 355 Test wickets. "Who writes your scripts?" asked Graham Gooch.

His batting was based on sound principles and phenomenal strength; his bowling seemed by then to be more run-in-and-hope, but batsmen remained intimidated by his early reputation to the end. His apres-cricket activities were always turbulent, and often semi-public, yet his marriage to Kath has lasted 25 years-plus at odds that seemed greater than 500 to 1. Almost as improbably, he has settled into a calm-ish middle age as a TV commentator of some wit and sagacity.
Matthew Engel June 2007

Ian Botham Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests1021616520020833.54856560.711422621671200
ODIs1161061521137923.21267179.100919744360
FC402617461939922833.97--3897--3540
List A4704196410474175*29.50--746--1960

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests10216821815108783838/3413/10628.402.9956.917274
ODIs116115627141391454/314/3128.543.9643.2300
FC402-635473190211728/34-27.223.0154.2-598
List A470-22899152646125/275/2724.943.9937.41530
Ian Terence Botham

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Test
ODI

Debut/Last Matches of Ian Botham

Recent Matches of Ian Botham

MatchBatBowlDateGroundFormat
Durham vs Australians320/21 & 0/4517-Jul-1993DurhamFC
Durham vs Glamorgan330/4907-Jul-1993CardiffList A
Durham vs Wiltshire55--22-Jun-1993TrowbridgeList A
Durham vs Hampshire361/3611-May-1993Stockton-on-TeesList A
Durham vs Minor C35*0/2127-Apr-1993HartlepoolList A

Photos of Ian Botham

Viv Richards and Ian Botham at the unveiling of the Richards-Botham Trophy
Sir Viv Richards and Sir Ian Botham are all smiles with the Richards-Botham Trophy
Sir Viv Richards and Sir Ian Botham unveil the Richards-Botham Trophy
Sir Ian Botham has a chat with Sir Andy Roberts
Sir Ian Botham at the launch of Botham Wines
Craig Overton receives his ODI cap from Ian Botham