Ian Botham

Is Ian Botham the greatest all rounder to grace the cricketing world, New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee, Pakistan’s Imran Khan, India’s Kapil Dev, even Tony Greig during the 170’s carnage, many can enter into the fray in the passage of time, great characters, players with driven personalities, entertainers on a rollercoaster of a ride, outstanding athletes playing out during the terror times of the world’s greatest fast bowlers.

The biggest swashbuckler of them all was Ian Botham, on and off the field Botham would cause multiple media frenzies from alleged affairs, smoking joints on a sex crazed drive to slapping and chasing the then Australian captain Ian Chappell around a car park, but on the pitch, the nicknamed ‘beefy’ Botham would set bowling and batting numbers which stood the test of time, Botham had the most impact on the nation’s heart strings and set pulses racing, arguably the most recognisable sportsman on planet earth at the time.

To be highlighted in this edition and in the public’s lens is the science of arguably Botham’s greatest triumph and the greatest comeback ever with one’s head in the jaws of the opposition’s teeth, the Australians enter the 1981 Headingly 3^rd test match and of further reflection the 5^th test match of the same series which took place at Old Trafford to further empower Botham with the Superman cape to align more into the swashbuckling identity which Botham created, it was fascinating to watch, Botham possessed great mental fortitude, always up for the challenges to deliver in spectacular fashion.

Botham’s England debut came in 1977, on the 28^th July at Trent Bridge v Australia, four years away from Botham’s greatest triumph at Headingly. Botham’s medium pace bowling noted for its wicked swing depending on the atmosphere’s conditions carved out 5 wickets for 74 runs on his introduction to test match cricket. To later become the greatest all rounder of his generation with razor sharp reflexes in the slip Gordon and on any given day with the stars aligned Botham would slap the opposition’s bowling around like ragdolls.

1981 Headingly, England v Australia, etched in the annals of cricket with England facing the arse end of a good beating, England were not given a beggar’s chance of becoming rich overnight as the Ladbrokes bookies of the day, the Aussies were about to feel the wrath, the power of Ian Terrance Botham. Australia batted out to a score of 409 runs on 1^st innings introduction to be positioned as clear favourites following England’s 1^st innings meagre total of 174 runs. The follow on was enforced and England’s golden locks sporting hero stamped his greatness at the crease with England sinking fast at 105 runs. Botham had made contributions with 50 runs in England’s 1^st innings and six wickets for 95 runs in the Aussies 409 total.

Partnered by fast bowler Graham Dilley who peaked out at 56 runs, Botham slashed the Australian pace attack to all parts of the ground, England were bowled out for 356 runs with Botham unbeaten and flawless on 149 not out. Australia was set a target of 130 runs, England was given no hope as the country’s betting slips became trashed, the intrigue of Botham was about to shed more light.

The cocky Aussies with their Pommie bashing were taken to task with the marker, brutality to strike fear, a large dose of their own medicine was dished out with England’s quirky fast bowler Bob Willis. Botham had the Aussie’s kangaroos jumping around with balls swinging around like balls of lead, the softener was applied for the jollied Willis to inspire some serious working bouncers, Willis coming in like a steam engine haywired to create bedlam and it transpired with a haul of 8 wickets for 43 runs aided with a time serving classic Botham slip catch to dismiss the Australian captain Kim Hughes and the wicket opener Graeme Wood. It can be said that it was arguably Bob Willis’ highest statue of standing in cricket, but it was Botham who engineered one of the greatest comebacks in test match history, to claim victory by 18 runs.

Onto the 5^th test at Old Trafford with the bar being raised beyond all possibilities, but this was Botham, a sporting genius. The fearless Botham launched at the Aussie Bowlers striking out at an innings of 118 runs on second innings with a match haul of 14 wickets to lead England to a 103 runs winning margin to retain the Ashes. Botham hit 6 sixes during the innings knock, a record which stood till 2019 with Ben Stoakes breaking the record. The sixth and final test at Kensington oval concluded with the match drawn, another stunning bagful of wickets, 13 being the take. The 3-1 series win marked Botham down as the country’s leading sports person, a career record of 5200 runs and 383 wicket is 102 tests alongside a top score of 208 runs with a best bowling figure of 8-34. On four occasions, portentous feats. Ian Terrace Botham OBE the 1981 Sports Personality of the Year, a member of the House of Lords, a charity fundraiser, previously Sky Sports commentator and the chairman of Durham County Cricket Club since 2017. Botham’s glittering career lined with controversy was on e hell of a ride into the annals of Test Cricket.

Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios the wild boy of tennis, underachieved with the talent at his disposal and lacked the mental fortitude to succeed at the pinnacle of the sport, sport is played in the mind as well as the talent bestowed. Kyrgios’ 2022 Wimbledon encounter v Novak Djokovic was over before stepping onto the grass. The two minute walk from the players’ changing rooms to the historic centre court the ‘greatest walk in tennis’, a unique atmosphere, the tournament’s history emblazoned to send an emotional shudder. Quote Kyrgios while waiting in line behind Djokovic to enter the centre court, “What am I doing here, I should not be here”, an encounter of a third kind, in that moment the match was lost, highlights Kyrgios’ career on recognition, quote Kyrgios “I overachieved in my career”, lame ducks who lack that winner’s mentality look to justify their defeats at the biggest of hurdles, to coach the skillset to coach the mind, the two chain link to succeed, Kyrgios robbed himself of the termed ‘mental fortitude in sport’.

The England Lionesses

Plenty of mental fortitude with the England women’s national team winning the European Championships for a second time, congratulations.