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Botham....The legend of 81

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Highlights of day 4 and 5 of the Headingley test were on ESPN Classic at the weekend.

Whilst Botham (and the tail) batted superbly, Willis' bowling was something else, one of the best spells you'll ever see. Australia were cruising too at 50 odd for 1 when he switched ends and blew them away.
 
Wise Man Says said:
Highlights of day 4 and 5 of the Headingley test were on ESPN Classic at the weekend.

Whilst Botham (and the tail) batted superbly, Willis' bowling was something else, one of the best spells you'll ever see. Australia were cruising too at 50 odd for 1 when he switched ends and blew them away.
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And the irony being he was not going to play the test. :shock:

It was only because he rested in a domestic match especially for the Headingley game.
 
Starting in 5 minutes time as soon as Last of the Summer Wine has finished.
 
eddyfinn said:
good programme. The saying you turn into the people you most hate certainly rings true for Bob Willis
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Yeah, you very rarely hear the modern day players being so critical of the press like he was.

Excellent programme. So many memories:

  • The bookies offering odds of 500/1 on an England win
  • The Bothams hosting a BBQ at their house for both teams during the Headingley test
  • Botham getting the silent treatment from the Lords members
  • Beefy taking 5 wickets for 1 run to secure victory at Edgbaston
  • His fantastic centuries at Headingley and Old Trafford

I'd also forgotten that there were 6 test matches that series. Not sure if that was the norm back then or a one off.
 
redandwhiterob said:
Good program and pleased at the end in mentioned and showed some of his other efforts apart from 81, up until then it came across like he was a one series wonder a bit
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Agreed. Hadn't realised he had played in 7 Ashes series though.

Brought a tear to the eye watching his charity efforts too. If ever a knighthood was deserved it was his.

He was my first real sporting hero and I don't think anyone will ever get close to him.
 
Thought it was excellent myself, just wish I'd been born a little earlier so I could have witnessed it. It's amazing to imagine now that a cricketer could be regular front page news, just goes to show what an amazing performer and character Botham was.

Couldn't help but laugh at Bob Willis slating the press though, even Stuart Broad commented on the irony of it on Twitter :lol:
 
Monday afternoon I was playing cricket out the back and my Dad came and got me, so aged 8 I watched most of Beefy's innings, then watched the all the play on Tuesday.

Great stuff from my favourite ever cricketer.
 
Steak Pie said:
Monday afternoon I was playing cricket out the back and my Dad came and got me, so aged 8 I watched most of Beefy's innings, then watched the all the play on Tuesday.

Great stuff from my favourite ever cricketer.
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The effect of Botham was so strong that despite never seeing him play for England, he's probably my favourite cricketer too, only Colly could run him close and thats more of a personal thing.
 
My dad is namechecked in a song for cancelling his Maths classes that Tuesday and letting the kids watch Willis go through the Aussies.

Looking at the matches 2005 was the better series though.
 
NorthCountryBoy said:
My dad is namechecked in a song for cancelling his Maths classes that Tuesday and letting the kids watch Willis go through the Aussies.

Looking at the matches 2005 was the better series though.
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Think 81 was more special as it was more or less one man almost single-handedly winning 3 games. In 2005, the outstanding performer finished on the losing side.
 
Australia had better players (Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath all "great players", Langer, Clarke, Lee etc. not bad!) in 2005 and were best team in the world. Wasn't the case in 1981 so would say 2005 was greater achievement.
Botham was force of nature that summer but was never as effective against the Windies. He was a fantastic bowler but he didn't make most of his batting talent.
He deserves every plaudit for his charity work as well though.
 
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