England are doing pretty well these days at cricket, but even I can acknowledge this is partly due to a diminishing opposition. However there was a time 30 years ago when England not only had a GREAT test side, but the opposition was also first class. England hosted India in 1982 and the third test started at the Oval on 8th July 1982. In the first innings, the never-to-be-bettered and unconventional Ian Botham scored one of the fastest and most destructive test double-hundreds ever by scoring 208 off 226 balls, with 19 4's and 4 6's, which is insane at that level. The Indians simply could not bowl at him.
Now Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE, Ian Botham was England's greatest ever all rounder and still holds the record for the number of test wickets by an English bowler. His finest hour was the year before when he simply demolished the Aussies at Headingly and rescued England, scoring 149 with the bat whilst Bob Willis took 8-43
A year later in the third test in 1982 against India he was up to his old tricks again, driving the ball seeminly at will, including punching a hole in the Pavillion roof.
Enjoy a spot of magic from Englands greatest ever cricketer and who must be Englands best ever sportsman. Long live beefy!
208 vs India
As a bonus and for no other reason than reminding any Aussies out there how good Beefy was, here is that 1981 Headingly match too.
Botham with the bat!
Willis with the ball!
