Ian Botham

From Cricipedia - The Cricket Encyclopedia!

Sir Ian Terence Botham (born 24 November 1955 in Heswall, Cheshire) is a former England Test cricketer and captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket. 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.

In a Test career spanning 15 years from 1977, Botham made 5200 runs at 33.54, and took 383 wickets at an average of 28.40. Similarly successful at one-day cricket, he was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1978.

He served as England captain for 12 Tests in 1980, but was an unsuccessful captain, with 8 draws and 4 losses. He resigned the captaincy after a loss and a draw in the first two Tests of the 1981 Ashes, which Botham being out for a "pair" at the Second Test at Lord's, but he subsequently scored 149 not out in the second innings of the Third Test at Headingley, a turning point as England went on to win the series 3-1. Botham took 5/11 in Australia's second innings at Edgbaston and scored another century at Old Trafford. The 1981 series is now commonly known as "Botham's Ashes".

Botham started his first-class career with Somerset in 1974. He left Somerset in protest in 1985 after the county sacked Viv Richards and Joel Garner, and played for Worcestershire between 1986 and 1991. In 1992 he joined County Championship newcomers Durham until his retirement midway through the 1993 season. He also played for Queensland.

After his retirement as a player, he became an authoritative television commentator and has participated in a number of charity long-distance walks raising over five million pounds, with leukaemia research amongst the good causes which benefitted. He was knighted in 2007 for services to cricket and his charity work.