SIR IAN BOTHAM (ENG)

Introduction

Sir Ian Terence Botham (born 24 November 1955) is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well known by his nicknames "Beefy" and "Guy the Gorilla". While a controversial player both on and off the field at times, Botham also held a number of test cricket records, and still retains the highest number of wickets taken by any England bowler.

Full name: Ian Terence Botham
Nickname: Beefy
Born: 24 November 1955 (1955-11-24) (age 52) Heswall, England
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Role: All-rounder

Test debut (cap 474): 28 July 1977 v Australia
Last Test: 18 June 1992 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 33): 26 August 1976 v West Indies
Last ODI: 24 August 1992 v Pakistan

Tests & ODI Matches: 102 & 116
Runs scored: 5200 & 2113
Batting average: 33.54 & 23.21
100s/50s: 14/22 & 0/9
Top score: 208 & 79
Wickets: 383 & 145
Bowling average: 28.40 & 28.54
5 wickets in innings: 27 & 0
Best bowling: 8/34 & 4/31
Catches: 120 & 36

Domestic Career

In first-class cricket, he played for Durham, Somerset and Worcestershire, as well as a season (1986-87) in Australia playing for Queensland. Botham started his first-class career in 1974 with Somerset. In 1985, he resigned from the Somerset County Cricket Club to protest the sacking of his friends Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He joined Worcestershire, playing for them between 1986 and 1991. In 1992, he joined County Championship newcomers Durham before retiring midway through the 1993 season. He was sacked from the Queensland team after being arrested for assault of a fellow airline passenger. In 1974, when playing against Hampshire and facing the West-Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts, a bouncer hit him straight in the mouth.

International Career

Botham made his Test debut for England on 28 July 1977 in the Third Test against Australia. He went on to enjoy a Test career spanning 15 years, in which he played in 102 matches.

Botham finshed his career with 5,200 runs at an average of 33.54; taking 383 wickets at an average of 28.40; and holding 120 catches. He is recognised as one of England's greatest Test players. He was also England's captain for 12 Tests in 1980 and 1981. As captain, Botham was generally considered to have been unsuccessful in that role.

Capataincy Record

His tenure was brief and he achieved no win, 8 draws and 4 losses. In his defence, 9 of his matches as captain were against the best team of the time, the West Indies.

Test Bowling & Batting Performances throughout his career

Records

Sir Ian Botham holds a number of Test records as an all-rounder, including being the fastest (in terms of matches) to achieve the "doubles" of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets, 2,000 runs and 200 wickets, and 3,000 runs and 300 wickets. He briefly held the world record for the greatest number of Test wickets. Ian holds the record for the highest number of test wickets ever taken by an Englishman at 383.

He scored a century and took 5 wickets in an innings in the same Test match on 5 occasions; no-one else has managed this feat more than twice. In 1980, playing against India, he became the first player to score a century and take ten wickets in a Test match. During the 1981 Ashes, Botham set a record of six sixes in a single Ashes Test Match at Old Trafford.

Honours

2008: Botham was awarded an honorary doctorate in Sports Science by Leeds Metropolitan University.
2008: Botham was awarded an honorary degree with the title Doctor of Laws from the University of Bath.
2007: Botham was knighted by the Queen in the Queen's Birthday Honours, again in recognition of his cricket achievements and his sustained efforts in raising money for Leukaemia research. The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace on 10 October 2007.

2004: BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
2003: First ever President of Leukaemia Research, the UK's leading blood cancer charity.
1992: Botham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cricket and for his charity work in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
1988: Awarded Pipe Smoker of the Year.
1981: Voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
1978: He was elected a Wisden cricketer of the year.