Sir Ian
Botham

Speaker Profile

Dominant and domineering, Ian Botham was not merely the top English cricketer of the 1980s but the leading sports personality. In an era of discreet footballers - before Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham - he commanded endless newspaper headlines as his career surged improbable heights and bottomless depths.

Within a year of being elevated from Somerset to his England debut in 1977, he was undisputed as the country's leading all-rounder; within three years he was captain; within four, he had resigned (a minute before being sacked), his form shot to pieces. Then began the most famous few weeks in English cricket history when Botham (under Mike Brearley's captaincy) led England to an astonishing Ashes victory with three performances - two with bat, one with ball - of mystical brilliance. Every one led to victory and between them they caused a boom in support for English cricket that reverberated through the decade. By the end of it, sober judges were wondering if Botham had done more harm by good by making all England believe, as he did, that cricket matches are won by inspiration and not preparation.

Even to this day that moment is voted by the English public as one of the country’s greatest sporting moments and Sir Ian still holds the record of taking more Test wickets than any other English bowler at 383.

Nick named Beefy, Sir Ian really is one of the UK's most loved larger than life characters. In 2007, he was knighted for his service to the community in raising over 20 million pounds for Luekaemia research of the past 10 years via his incredible cross country walks. It is believed that the funded research has helped lower the fatality rate in Luekaemia sufferers from a 25% survival rate to a 75% survival rate today.

Sir Ian continues to work as a highly regarded cricket commentator with Sky Sports and is a highly amusing anecdotal corporate speaker.