Ian Botham (1955-), Cricketer

Sir Ian Botham

Sitter in 3 portraits
Cricketer. Born in Heswall, Cheshire, Botham went to Milford School and first played for Somerset in 1974. He made his Test début in 1977 against Australia, and the following year made cricketing history by becoming the first player to score a 100 runs and take 8 wickets in a Test Match. He captained England in 1980-1, in the Ashes series against Australia, during which he scored centuries at Headingley and Old Trafford, and took five wickets for one run at Edgbaston. Botham captained England ten more times. In 1982 he became the first player to score 3,000 runs and take 250 wickets in Test matches. He retired in 1993. He achieved another sort of fame in doing long-distance sponsored walks for charity.