Ian Botham is one of the best all-rounders to play the game so far for England. Speaking about his Test career, he made his debut against Australia in 1977 at Nottingham. Then, he played 102 Tests and scored 5200 runs, including 14 centuries and 22 fifties. But, with the ball, Botham came up with some match-winning contributions on many occasions whether it was at home or overseas conditions.
Botham took 383 wickets, at an economy of 2.99, including 27 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls. His best match figure is 13 wickets for 106 runs against India at the Wankhede while his best bowling figure in an innings is eight wickets for 34 runs against Pakistan at the Lord’s.
Here are the top three best bowling spells of Ian Botham in Tests:
3. 8/103 vs West Indies, Lord’s, 1984
This extraordinary spell from Botham came against a top batting lineup of West Indies during the second Test at the Lord’s in 1984. England batted first and scored 286 runs in their first innings. But, in reply, Ian Botham broke the backbone of the Windies’ dangerous batting lineup as he picked up eight wickets for 103 runs in 27.4 overs.
Batters like Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Larry Gomes, Viv Richards, and Clive Llyod were his victims as the visitors got bundled out for 245 runs in their first innings. Eventually, West Indies managed to win the game by nine wickets but Botham bagged the Player of the Match award. Along with those eight wickets, he scored 111 runs with the bat also.
2. 7/48 vs India, Wankhede, 1980
A medium-fast pacer has always found difficulties to grab wickets in sub-continent wickets. But Ian Botham brought carnage when he picked up seven wickets for just 48 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai during the only Test against India in 1980. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first.
However, Botham proved that decision a wrong one as they got bundled out for just 242 runs in their first innings. He took six wickets in that innings but in India’s second innings, Botham took seven wickets for 48 runs as they again got bundled out for 149 runs. Eventually, England won that match by 10 wickets and Botham grabbed a total of 13 wickets in that game along with a 114-run knock in the first innings with the bat.
1. 6/78 vs Australia, Perth, 1979
Ian Botham came up with another top performance during the first Test against Australia at Perth in 1979. While batting first, the Aussies scored 244 runs in their first innings and it was Botham who was the star with the ball. He grabbed six wickets for 78 runs in 35 overs along with some big wickets like Bruce Laird, Allan Border, and Greg Chappell.
In the second innings also, he picked a fifer for 98 runs in 45.5 overs. But eventually, the Aussies won the game by 138 runs as England got bundled out for 215 runs while chasing a target of 354 runs. Despite the loss, the star England all-rounder managed to bag the Player of the Match award for taking 11 wickets.