Every time life deals me a blow such as death of a loved one - I watch this innings and the Headingley and Edgbaston tests. Ian conquering the world with a grin. Life affirming
After 40 years I still remember watching those hooked sixes like no other shots played in test cricket. It defied belief then, and still does now, but you can only think that for Botham in the summer of 1981 time moved quite a bit slower than for everyone else. Natural talent, and immense self belief and aggression can account for the rest.
I think the innings resonated so strongly with the public because the fans had to endure England crawling from 50-1 in about 19 overs to 104-5 in the 68th!!
Ian Botham at his best was the greatest all-rounder of all time, simply different class and the most natural talent cricket has ever seen. No cricket has ever entertained crowds like he did. Chris Tavaré was also exceptional that day.
Totally agree. He was Boys Own. Younger generations do not seem to like him because of his politics. They dont know how big Botham was in the 1980s. The Beckham of his day. I'm disappointed he does not make these Greatest Ever Teams. Richie Benaud for example picked Imran. Statistics do not convey Botham's career accurately in terms of impact and personality he had on cricket. For example he only averaged 36 with the bat in this incredible series. He was also expected to turn out for his county every game. The sheer amount of cricket he played as an all rounder was staggering.
@@davidbrooks187 Looking at Botham's stats..first 25 tests he averaged 40 with the bat, and 139 wickets at 19. Incredible. Sid Barnes territory. At the end of this Ashes series he averaged 21 with the ball with 152 wickets. Pat Cummins, Glenn McGrath .. From his debut to the end of the 1982 summer in 42 tests not as captain - he averaged 46 with the bat and 21 with the ball. 11 hundreds and 214 wickets.
Im 57 years old. Ian botham innings is still the best ive ever seen from an England player. Sheer power, audacity, bravery, and pure entertainment. The man was a legend.
Watching these highlights in 2023 after 2nd test defeat at Lord's. Someone should show this to the England team - preferably the tailenders as an instruction on how lower middle order batsmen (Knott and Emburey) can score safely, methodically but without sacrificing run rate!! by the close of play Knott and Emburey had put on an unbroken partnership of 63 without giving a chance. They scored those runs in just about the last 20 overs of the day!!
Chris Tavare's two scores of 50+ in this test match were crucial to England winning. He never now gets a mention when the '81 Ashes are talked about. Richie Benaud, shrewd as always in his observations, does give Tavare full credit here for his contribution in this test match.
So he has no protective helmet, he's being bounced by a furious Lillee and he just swats the ball away into the stands without even looking at it. Utterly ridiculous. In 1981 he was absolutely untouchable.
@@randyborstol2491 Richie often criticised tactics he thought were strange or just inappropriate, whoever made them. I remember a match he commentated on and England were scoring slowly - and in the highlights package he noted that he felt 'England could have pushed the score on more"!
It would be fantastic to see the 'lost' bits of this brilliant innings. This includes several fours that Botham hit - two after he had reached his hundred and one before he pulled the six off Terry Alderman. I've never seen any of these. The final four that he hit in his 149* at Leeds on the final morning is also never shown. Would be great of the BBC could show the whole of Botham's 118 - rather like Sky have been doing with Stokes' innings at Leeds in 2019 and the World Cup Final.
Hello Stephen, Ian's last 4 on Day 5 is uploaded on my channel... Type in "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 3rd TEST MATCH DAY 5 PART 1 HEADINGLEY JULY 21 1981 BOB WILLIS". Every scoring shot of the 149* is available on the official DVD release as a bonus in the Menu. I have uploaded every bit of video I own from that 1981 series, except for that DVD as it is widely available. There are additional bits in the 1985 re-runs I recently uploaded too. Thank you for your interest, DARREN
@@dmmordecai7984 I have that DVD but I thought it only completed Day 4 leaving Botham 145* - I thought even the highlights of Day 5 were the same but I'll check out your upload. Its great work Darren. I love watching all this less famous footage that I still remember so well - particularly those amazing series in 1982 against India and Pakistan which most people have forgotten now. Growing up seeing Botham, Kapil Dev and Imran Khan in those series, I think I genuinely thought as a kid that the all rounders were the main batsmen with the earlier ones just a bit of a warm up act!
@@stephenkuhrt635 Hello Stephen, apologies, I just double checked the official DVD and yes, the 5th day runs are missing, just all the 145* runs. Well, hopefully now, you have seen Ian's last 4 and Bob's dismissal on the link I sent you. Much of Day 5 is also uploaded in several parts on my channel. I am sure you can find them. Check out these uploads aswell... "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 4th TEST MATCH EDGBASTON 1981 UK BROADCAST AUGUST 20 1985", "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 5th TEST MATCH OLD TRAFFORD 1981 UK BROADCAST AUGUST 3 1985" and "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 3rd TEST MATCH HEADINGLEY 1981 UK BROADCAST JULY 16 1985" The first two definitely have some extra bits, but you will have to know your stuff. Far too detailed to describe, but they are there. Thanks for watching, DARREN
@@cerneuffington2656 There must be a cricket enthusiast out there who taped the complete afternoon session when Botham came to the crease in the hope of a repeat of Headingley! Having said that I remember Brian Close being highly critical of BBC's coverage of Ian's innings as every 15 minutes they headed off to the horse racing!!!
I entirely agree the comments about Chris Tavare. He, like David Steele of Northants (correct name?) are players that I could watch all day. As for Gower and Gatting? Not so much, too flighty. Yes I know the averages.
Can you imagine if the commentators were American? The other commentators like Graveney, Parfitt and co would constantly trot out the only inciteful comments their American counterparts can muster "are you kidding me?" And thats the most exquisite cover drive, 4 more to Botham. Are you kidding me. Etc.
Every time life deals me a blow such as death of a loved one - I watch this innings and the Headingley and Edgbaston tests.
Ian conquering the world with a grin.
Life affirming
After 40 years I still remember watching those hooked sixes like no other shots played in test cricket. It defied belief then, and still does now, but you can only think that for Botham in the summer of 1981 time moved quite a bit slower than for everyone else. Natural talent, and immense self belief and aggression can account for the rest.
I think the innings resonated so strongly with the public because the fans had to endure England crawling from 50-1 in about 19 overs to 104-5 in the 68th!!
I prefer the hooks by Kallicharan v Lillee in 1975.
Ah, the dulcet tones of Jim Laker and Richie Benaud, two of the best commentators.
No finer sight in cricket the botham smashing the ball all over the park awesome to watch
Love how Botham lift his helmet after his 100 …..oh sorry didn’t have one ….what a hero .
Ian Botham at his best was the greatest all-rounder of all time, simply different class and the most natural talent cricket has ever seen. No cricket has ever entertained crowds like he did.
Chris Tavaré was also exceptional that day.
Totally agree.
He was Boys Own.
Younger generations do not seem to like him because of his politics.
They dont know how big Botham was in the 1980s. The Beckham of his day.
I'm disappointed he does not make these Greatest Ever Teams.
Richie Benaud for example picked Imran.
Statistics do not convey Botham's career accurately in terms of impact and personality he had on cricket.
For example he only averaged 36 with the bat in this incredible series.
He was also expected to turn out for his county every game.
The sheer amount of cricket he played as an all rounder was staggering.
@@randyborstol2491 Richie Benaud needs his eyes checked lol.
Botham at his best was untouchable and the greatest all rounder ever.
@@davidbrooks187 Looking at Botham's stats..first 25 tests he averaged 40 with the bat, and 139 wickets at 19. Incredible. Sid Barnes territory.
At the end of this Ashes series he averaged 21 with the ball with 152 wickets. Pat Cummins, Glenn McGrath ..
From his debut to the end of the 1982 summer in 42 tests not as captain - he averaged 46 with the bat and 21 with the ball. 11 hundreds and 214 wickets.
Im 57 years old. Ian botham innings is still the best ive ever seen from an England player. Sheer power, audacity, bravery, and pure entertainment. The man was a legend.
Another brilliant upload keep it up
Yes! My thanks too!
Tavare did did a great job that summer.
Watching these highlights in 2023 after 2nd test defeat at Lord's. Someone should show this to the England team - preferably the tailenders as an instruction on how lower middle order batsmen (Knott and Emburey) can score safely, methodically but without sacrificing run rate!! by the close of play Knott and Emburey had put on an unbroken partnership of 63 without giving a chance. They scored those runs in just about the last 20 overs of the day!!
Chris Tavare's two scores of 50+ in this test match were crucial to England winning. He never now gets a mention when the '81 Ashes are talked about. Richie Benaud, shrewd as always in his observations, does give Tavare full credit here for his contribution in this test match.
Tavare reminded him of his ex team mate Bill Lawry.
Ian 'beefy' Botham 1 of Somerset's finest back in the day
What an innings.
That run up from Lillee 👏👏
Alan Knott. Legend; overlooked. Loved plasticine.
So he has no protective helmet, he's being bounced by a furious Lillee and he just swats the ball away into the stands without even looking at it. Utterly ridiculous. In 1981 he was absolutely untouchable.
'He plays that shot pretty well', classic Benaud
Richie lost patience with the Australian bowling
A rare display of bias
@@randyborstol2491 Richie often criticised tactics he thought were strange or just inappropriate, whoever made them. I remember a match he commentated on and England were scoring slowly - and in the highlights package he noted that he felt 'England could have pushed the score on more"!
King,,,richards n king botham
That shot off Alderman at 13:40. Just about the cleanest hit Ive ever seen
Listen to it ping off the bat. He nailed it!
Really wonderful days of botham great all rounder
One of the most aggresive, fast, accurate bowling outfits and he didn't feel the need for a helmet!. 🤣
In the early 80s, where would we ever have been without Wendy's Wimbush? In a barren statistical wasteland, that's where.
Tavare and Boycott. I wonder how they's handle a 20 20 game?
47 would be a par score
England as it used to be.
What was the prettty orange headband about?
It would be fantastic to see the 'lost' bits of this brilliant innings. This includes several fours that Botham hit - two after he had reached his hundred and one before he pulled the six off Terry Alderman. I've never seen any of these. The final four that he hit in his 149* at Leeds on the final morning is also never shown. Would be great of the BBC could show the whole of Botham's 118 - rather like Sky have been doing with Stokes' innings at Leeds in 2019 and the World Cup Final.
Hello Stephen, Ian's last 4 on Day 5 is uploaded on my channel... Type in "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 3rd TEST MATCH DAY 5 PART 1 HEADINGLEY JULY 21 1981 BOB WILLIS". Every scoring shot of the 149* is available on the official DVD release as a bonus in the Menu. I have uploaded every bit of video I own from that 1981 series, except for that DVD as it is widely available. There are additional bits in the 1985 re-runs I recently uploaded too. Thank you for your interest, DARREN
@@dmmordecai7984 I have that DVD but I thought it only completed Day 4 leaving Botham 145* - I thought even the highlights of Day 5 were the same but I'll check out your upload. Its great work Darren. I love watching all this less famous footage that I still remember so well - particularly those amazing series in 1982 against India and Pakistan which most people have forgotten now. Growing up seeing Botham, Kapil Dev and Imran Khan in those series, I think I genuinely thought as a kid that the all rounders were the main batsmen with the earlier ones just a bit of a warm up act!
@@stephenkuhrt635 Hello Stephen, apologies, I just double checked the official DVD and yes, the 5th day runs are missing, just all the 145* runs. Well, hopefully now, you have seen Ian's last 4 and Bob's dismissal on the link I sent you. Much of Day 5 is also uploaded in several parts on my channel. I am sure you can find them. Check out these uploads aswell... "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 4th TEST MATCH EDGBASTON 1981 UK BROADCAST AUGUST 20 1985", "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 5th TEST MATCH OLD TRAFFORD 1981 UK BROADCAST AUGUST 3 1985" and "ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 3rd TEST MATCH HEADINGLEY 1981 UK BROADCAST JULY 16 1985" The first two definitely have some extra bits, but you will have to know your stuff. Far too detailed to describe, but they are there. Thanks for watching, DARREN
Sadly, the BBC wiped the ball-by- ball coverage. All thats left are the highlights programmes.
@@cerneuffington2656 There must be a cricket enthusiast out there who taped the complete afternoon session when Botham came to the crease in the hope of a repeat of Headingley! Having said that I remember Brian Close being highly critical of BBC's coverage of Ian's innings as every 15 minutes they headed off to the horse racing!!!
What a magnificent way to go to a SIX??? ????
Best commentary blooper ever
I entirely agree the comments about Chris Tavare. He, like David Steele of Northants (correct name?) are players that I could watch all day. As for Gower and Gatting? Not so much, too flighty. Yes I know the averages.
Laker commentating. Who remembers his 18 wickets in one match. I am not sure think it was the Aussies.
Can you imagine if the commentators were American? The other commentators like Graveney, Parfitt and co would constantly trot out the only inciteful comments their American counterparts can muster "are you kidding me?" And thats the most exquisite cover drive, 4 more to Botham. Are you kidding me. Etc.
Great all rounder N Bottham!
N Bottham superb!