Former England Cricketer
Sir Ian Botham is an internationally recognised personality who has, at various times in his career, been a professional footballer, cricketer, charity fundraiser and television commentator. He started his career on the football and cricket fields simultaneously, with Scunthorpe United and Somerset County Cricket Club. Sir Ian 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.
Sir Ian 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.
The battle against
leukaemia became a subject close to Ian's heart after a visit to a
hospital to meet children suffering from the illness in Musgrave Park
Hospital in Taunton.
Since then Sir Ian has
worked tirelessly to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund by
walking the length and breadth of Britian and across the Alps. In
October 1999 Sir Ian completed his last walk (John O'Groats to Land's
End) bringing the total he has raised to over £4 million.
Since his retirement
from competitive cricket Sir Ian has continued his involvement in the
game through the role of cricket commentator for Sky Sports as well as
developing his keen interest in golf on the Pro-Am Circuit. He was
awarded the OBE for his services to cricket and charity in 1992. Sir
Ian also writes a column for the Daily Mirror. Whilst putting a huge
amount of energy into his sporting life, he has always made time for
his family - wife Kathy and children Liam, Sarah and Becky. |
