Trivia

As a boy supported Chelsea Football Club (London, England) and actually appeared in a game at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea in 1981 in a Testimonial game for long-serving player, Ron Harris. He also played professional football for Scunthorpe Utd in England.

His son, Liam, plays professional Rugby Union.

Father of Liam, Sarah and Rebecca Botham.

He was awarded Knigthhood in the 2007 Queen Elizabeth Birthday Honors List for his services to sports and charities.

Was given a life peerage in the 2020 Political Honours and was created Baron Botham of Ravensworth in the County of North Yorkshire.

Only one amongst the 4 great all-rounders of the 1980s, including India's Kapil Dev, Pakistan's Imran Khan and New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee to take 100 catches.

Best of friends with his Indian rival Kapil Dev and Australian nemesis Allan Border.

Scored a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same test on 3 separate occasions.

Ranked by ESPN Cricinfo as the 11th greatest cricketer of all-time.

Till date the fastest to reach the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets(21 tests), 2000 runs and 200 wickets(42 tests) and 3000 runs and 300 wickets(72 rests). Unfortunately, he completed his career at 383 test scalps, else he would've been the first to scale the landmark of 5000 runs and 400 wickets, a feat achieved by his Indian rival and best friend Kapil Dev albeit in 122 tests.

Wisden cricketer of the year 1978.

His legendary unbeaten 149 during the 1981 Ashes at Headingley was voted by Wisden as the 4th greatest individual test innings of all-time.

During the Golden Jubilee Test against India at Mumbai in 1980, Botham became the first cricketer in history to score a century and take 10 wickets in the same test.

Highest wicket-taker of the 1992 World Cup with 18 scalps. However, England were beaten in the final by Pakistan, led by Botham's rival Imran Khan.

Was asked in school what he intended to do in life by one of his teachers to which Botham responded he wanted to become a cricketer. Stunned, his teacher in return asked "That's fine, but what is it that you want to do ?".

His close friend, batting legend and former Somerset colleague Sir Vivian Richards happens to be the godfather of his son Liam.

Considered by several cricket writers and former cricketers as England's most influential cricketer since World War 2.

TV Commercial for Fosters Special Lager. (1993)

TV Commercial for Dansk LA Lager. (1986)

TV Commercial for Cellnet Phone with Brian Clough and Joan Collins. (1987)

TV Commercial for Australian Byrne Ford Car Dealership. (1988)

Left his county outfit Somerset in 1987 as a mark of protest against the club's administration after they refused to renew the contracts of his West Indian friends and fellow cricket legends Joel Garner and Vivian Richards. Garner, who was also approaching his international retirement, shifted to Shield Cricket in Australia whilst Richards was signed by Glamorgan. Botham ended his cricketing career playing for Durham in 1992-93 having already retired from international cricket towards the end of the 1992 World Cup where he ended as the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament.