Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham, OBEis 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, also grabbing 120 catches while fielding predominantly in the slips and remains well known by his nickname "Beefy". While at times a controversial player both on and off the field, Botham also held a number of Test cricket records, and until 17 April 2015 held the record for...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionCricket Player
Date of Birth24 November 1955
I think we are going to see exciting cricket all the way. We are watching the two best teams in the world-and I think England will eventually go on to pip Australia by a single Test
You wouldn't see those sorts of decisions given in village cricket, let alone Test cricket. The England players have my sympathy.
I half knew what to expect when I saw the cricket ground in the morning. It was when I started to talk to people working out there, I began to find what I was looking for.
I think I'd struggle to get excited by synchronised swimming.
Sport can bring communities together and can release a lot of pent-up emotions
To win in Australia, for me, has to be the ultimate success because the Aussies live for sport
I can remember running around at the age of 3, wanting to play golf, cricket and football. I was always active, one way or another, driving my parents mad.
A few years ago England would have struggled to beat the Eskimos
I watched children dying. That will be the image that will stay with me
There is nothing more exciting in sport when the top two countries in the world are battling for the Ashes
The people in the villages had turned in on themselves. You can understand it. When you have a bad day on the field, what do you do? Talk to your teammates.
I'm not a great one for looking back.
Soccer and cricket were my main sports growing up. I had trials as a soccer player with a few clubs interested, Crystal Palace being one, but it was cricket which became my chosen profession.
There are times when you feel you simply can't go on.