Video: Botham At 60 - Happy birthday to one of England’s greatest ...

IT IS a badge of considerable honour that, on his 60th birthday, English cricket still has no adjective more evocative, more tantalising or more loaded with expectation than ‘Botham-esque’.
England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.
England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.

Fans who never saw him play, and there are plenty, know exactly what that means. A tiny percentage of cricket-lovers across the world have set foot in

Leeds, but a great many more would light up at the words ‘Headingley ‘81’.

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That match more than most, sums up the appeal that has kept Botham’s name on so many lips for so long.

England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.
England's Ian Botham as he plays a defensive stroke against a delivery from Australian Terry Alderman (not pictured), during the fourth day of the third Cornhill cricket Test Match at Headingley, 1981 Leeds. PA Photo.

Click on the video link above to watch some of Ian Botham’s best moments playing for England

The numbers are beguiling enough - victory odds of 500-1 shot made good, a second innings masterpiece worth 149 not out and seven wickets in the match.

But to see the match unfold, even now, is true sporting spectacle - our bearded protagonist flaying the Australian attack with muscular mercilessness, charging

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in to pick off batsmen through force of will, galloping through the crowd as they raced on to the pitch.

Ian Botham as he races back to the pavilion after snatching up a stump following England's victory during the fourth Test match against  Australia at Edgbaston in 1981. Picture: PAIan Botham as he races back to the pavilion after snatching up a stump following England's victory during the fourth Test match against  Australia at Edgbaston in 1981. Picture: PA
Ian Botham as he races back to the pavilion after snatching up a stump following England's victory during the fourth Test match against Australia at Edgbaston in 1981. Picture: PA

It is said of a famous 1976 Sex Pistols gig at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall that every member of the audience went on to form a band of their own.

How many who saw Botham’s bravura best five years later went out and picked up a bat?

How many who already had one decided to swing it that little bit harder?

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How many still do, seeking their own minor taste of something ‘Botham-esque’?

Ian Botham arrives for a memorial service for Yorkshire Cricket legend Brian Close earlier this year at St Chads Church in Far Headingley. Picture: Tony JohnsonIan Botham arrives for a memorial service for Yorkshire Cricket legend Brian Close earlier this year at St Chads Church in Far Headingley. Picture: Tony Johnson
Ian Botham arrives for a memorial service for Yorkshire Cricket legend Brian Close earlier this year at St Chads Church in Far Headingley. Picture: Tony Johnson

Flintoff, for one, joked that he had dropped his shopping the first time he met his great predessor. James Anderson admitted that the series later known as

‘Botham’s Ashes’ was on heavy rotation on his childhood VHS player.

When Anderson replaced Botham as the most prolific England wicket-taker in Tests in April, the mutual appreciation flowed.

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Botham’s mark of 383 scalps - achieved through prolific away swing and endless reserves of competitiveness - had stood unchallenged for 23 years.

Sir Ian Botham passes through a guard of honour of cricket bats as he walks in Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge , during the the first leg of his 14th charity walk, in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in April 2012.Sir Ian Botham passes through a guard of honour of cricket bats as he walks in Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge , during the the first leg of his 14th charity walk, in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in April 2012.
Sir Ian Botham passes through a guard of honour of cricket bats as he walks in Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge , during the the first leg of his 14th charity walk, in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in April 2012.

A couple of days before toppling it in Antigua, Anderson said: “I was born in 1982 but my Dad had the ‘81 Ashes video and growing up I had that on all the

time.

“He’s a legend of the game and a legend of English cricket. For me to have the opportunity to go past him is a dream come true.

“For a bowler there’s no greater achievement.”

Botham, stationed in the press box when Anderson’s moment came, met Anderson with a congratulatory handshake as he left the pitch - and the promise of a

fitting gift.

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“I’m absolutely delighted for him that he has finally overtaken me,” he said Botham.

“I’ve got something for him in the UK - it’s the largest bottle of wine that I’ve been able to find. It’s about as big as Jimmy.”

That Botham sought such pleasures off the field has never been a secret. He was banned from cricket for two months in 1986 after admitting marijuana use, felt

compelled to sub-title his autobiography ‘Don’t Tell Kath’ in acknowledgement of his wife, and never saw eye to eye with those who administered the sport he

shone in.

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Yet at the age of 60 he is safely considered establishment enough for a knighthood and is preparing his long-suffering feet for another mammoth charity

walk, this time in South Africa.

Funds raised since he started the initiative in 1985 lie north of #13m.

Sporting excellence, triumph in adversity, moments of personal weakness and a proud history of benevolence: Botham-esque continues to mean many things to many

people.