Ian Terence Botham, (born November 24, 1955) was one of England’s best-ever cricketers and one of the best all-round cricketers of all time. In a Test career spanning 15 years from 1977, he 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.
Whilst his averages suggest a no more than average batsman and bowler, they belie his reputation as one of the greatest match winners of the game. He tended to play to extremes, so if Botham played well, he often seemed to win the match on his own.
He was reknowned as a big-hitting batsman with a surprisingly classical technique, and as a fast-medium paced swing bowler. In his later career after a back injury, his pace descended to no more than a gentle medium pace, but seemed to retain the knack of taking wickets regardless.
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.
He made his Test debut for England against Australia on 28 July, 1977, and played 102 Tests. He served as England captain for 12 Tests in 1980, but was an unsuccessful captain, with 8 draws and 4 losses.
His career coincided with several other great all-rounders, including Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev. As a result, the 1980s is considered to be a golden era for the all-rounder. Botham’s top world rankings were first and third in bowling and batting respectively.
He holds a number of Test records as an all-rounder, including being fastest (in terms of matches) player to obtain 1,000 runs and 100 wickets, 2,000 runs and 200 wickets, and 3,000 runs and 300 wickets.
He was the first player to score 5,000 runs and take 300 Test wickets, and the first to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test match. He scored a century and took 5 wickets in an innings on 5 occasions; no-one else has managed this feat more than twice.
When he retired, he held the world record for Test wickets, although this has subsequently been passed by several players.
