Nothing less than a phenomenon
At his peak, he was - for Englishmen of a certain generation - nothing less than a phenomenon
Lawrence Booth
30-Nov-2006
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Video - The Botham story (Windows Media Player - 2m 42s)
For much of the 1980s, all of the 1990s, and the first few years of the 2000s, his standing in the game could be measured by the desperation with which journalists and fans would refer to the latest English allrounder as "the new Botham". Just as revealing was the fact that, until Andrew Flintoff slayed the Aussies in 2005, no one came even remotely close to justifying the tag. As for the real Botham, well, there were moments in his 15-year international career when he seemed to transcend the role of wicket-taker and run-scorer. At his peak, he was - for Englishmen of a certain generation - nothing less than a phenomenon.
For much of the 1980s, all of the 1990s, and the first few years of the 2000s, his standing in the game could be measured by the desperation with which journalists and fans would refer to the latest English allrounder as "the new Botham". Just as revealing was the fact that, until Andrew Flintoff slayed the Aussies in 2005, no one came even remotely close to justifying the tag. As for the real Botham, well, there were moments in his 15-year international career when he seemed to transcend the role of wicket-taker and run-scorer. At his peak, he was - for Englishmen of a certain generation - nothing less than a phenomenon.
Achievements
Pick 'n' mix from his CV, and you are unlikely to be disappointed: 102 Tests, 5200 runs, 383 wickets, 120 catches. Botham was always involved, never dull, and made such an impression on the international stage that he had 100 Test wickets to his name at the age of 23, not to mention four hundreds. In 1980 he scored 114 and took 13 wickets against India in Mumbai, and in 1981, the summer still instinctively referred to as "Botham's Ashes", he beat Australia virtually by himself. Even at the age of 36, in his final winter as an international cricketer, he could draw on his considerable competitive juices to see off Australia in the World Cup.
Pick 'n' mix from his CV, and you are unlikely to be disappointed: 102 Tests, 5200 runs, 383 wickets, 120 catches. Botham was always involved, never dull, and made such an impression on the international stage that he had 100 Test wickets to his name at the age of 23, not to mention four hundreds. In 1980 he scored 114 and took 13 wickets against India in Mumbai, and in 1981, the summer still instinctively referred to as "Botham's Ashes", he beat Australia virtually by himself. Even at the age of 36, in his final winter as an international cricketer, he could draw on his considerable competitive juices to see off Australia in the World Cup.
What makes him special
With the bat, Botham was a fearless hitter - but good enough to take a double-century off India at The Oval. With the ball, he was a muscular, no-quarter-given, swing bowler who had a knack of persuading the batsman that he was not going to last long. At slip, he would stand with his hands on his knees until the final second, as if to emphasise his love of a challenge. But his defining feature was his ability to inspire those around him and scare those opposite him. While Botham was around, anything was possible. Crucially, both sides knew it.
With the bat, Botham was a fearless hitter - but good enough to take a double-century off India at The Oval. With the ball, he was a muscular, no-quarter-given, swing bowler who had a knack of persuading the batsman that he was not going to last long. At slip, he would stand with his hands on his knees until the final second, as if to emphasise his love of a challenge. But his defining feature was his ability to inspire those around him and scare those opposite him. While Botham was around, anything was possible. Crucially, both sides knew it.
Finest hour
Which of the highlights from 1981 do you settle for? The undefeated 149 at Headingley, which paved the way for the only instance in the 20th century of a team winning a Test match after following on? Or his spell of five wickets for one run which turned defeat into victory at Edgbaston? Or his helmetless, swash-and-buckle 118 at Old Trafford, an innings which prompted The Times to ask whether it was the greatest in Test history? Headingley has to get the vote, simply because it remains the most talked-about match in 130 years of Test cricket - and because it was the catalyst for a summer that was never to be forgotten.
Which of the highlights from 1981 do you settle for? The undefeated 149 at Headingley, which paved the way for the only instance in the 20th century of a team winning a Test match after following on? Or his spell of five wickets for one run which turned defeat into victory at Edgbaston? Or his helmetless, swash-and-buckle 118 at Old Trafford, an innings which prompted The Times to ask whether it was the greatest in Test history? Headingley has to get the vote, simply because it remains the most talked-about match in 130 years of Test cricket - and because it was the catalyst for a summer that was never to be forgotten.
Achilles Heel
West Indian fans never saw the best of Botham, unless they had gone along to Taunton to watch him and his best mate Viv Richards try to hit the ball into the Quantocks. In 20 Tests against what was then the best team in the world, Botham averaged 21 with the bat and 35 with the ball. He was also unfortunate enough to be up against West Indies in nine of his 12 Tests as captain, none of which ended in victory. In his later years, a back injury severely compromised his ability as a bowler. Sometimes, even his irrepressibility was not enough.
West Indian fans never saw the best of Botham, unless they had gone along to Taunton to watch him and his best mate Viv Richards try to hit the ball into the Quantocks. In 20 Tests against what was then the best team in the world, Botham averaged 21 with the bat and 35 with the ball. He was also unfortunate enough to be up against West Indies in nine of his 12 Tests as captain, none of which ended in victory. In his later years, a back injury severely compromised his ability as a bowler. Sometimes, even his irrepressibility was not enough.
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How history views him
Botham will be remembered as the most charismatic Englishman ever to play the game: he remains one of the few cricketers to have successfully relegated football to the inside pages of the British newspapers on a regular basis. His personal duels with the other three great allrounders of the 1980s - Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee - provided sport within a sport, but for England fans he is regarded as the man who bucked the trend by refusing to kow-tow to Australia. Even now, the mere mention of his name inspires a shudder down under.
Botham will be remembered as the most charismatic Englishman ever to play the game: he remains one of the few cricketers to have successfully relegated football to the inside pages of the British newspapers on a regular basis. His personal duels with the other three great allrounders of the 1980s - Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee - provided sport within a sport, but for England fans he is regarded as the man who bucked the trend by refusing to kow-tow to Australia. Even now, the mere mention of his name inspires a shudder down under.
Life after cricket
It has been almost as hectic as his playing days. Botham has been a familiar and outspoken presence in the Sky commentary box since the corporation began following England, and in 2001 he launched a marketing and sports management agency, which now counts Kevin Pietersen among his clients. His indefatigability still shines through: he recently completed his 11th charity walk to raise money for leukaemia sufferers and teenage victims of cancer.
It has been almost as hectic as his playing days. Botham has been a familiar and outspoken presence in the Sky commentary box since the corporation began following England, and in 2001 he launched a marketing and sports management agency, which now counts Kevin Pietersen among his clients. His indefatigability still shines through: he recently completed his 11th charity walk to raise money for leukaemia sufferers and teenage victims of cancer.
Lawrence Booth is a freelance cricket writer based in London