Biography
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 Britain 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.
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