Ian Botham: England Cricketer

Botham is remembered as the best all rounder that English cricket has ever seen. Of his many outstanding achievements, the greatest performance was in Bombay in 1979/80 for England vs India; when he hit 114 in his only innings and took 13 wickets in the match (6-58 and 7-48). This was the first time that the all round feat of; a century and ten wickets in a match had been accomplished.

Career Highlights

Ian Botham reached a career double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in his 21st Test match; and his tally of 100 wickets was achieved in two years and nine days, another record. The youngest cricketer to take 200 wickets in a Tests. He reached his second double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets after 42 Tests; and was the first player to hit 5,000 runs and take 300 wickets in Tests. A back injury in 1988 threatened his career and, despite further injuries, his Test career continued until 1992.

Ian Botham: Charity Work

Ian has been a prodigious fundraiser for charitable causes, undertaking a total of 12 long-distance charity walks. His first, in 1985, was a 900 mile trek from John o’ Groats to Land’s End. His efforts were inspired after a visit to Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital whilst receiving treatment for a broken toe; when he took a wrong turn into a children’s ward, he was devastated to learn that some of the children had only weeks to live. Since then, his efforts have raised more than £12 million for charity, with Leukaemia Research among the causes to benefit.

He has been a cricket commentator for Sky Sports since 1995.