Ian Chappell (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former cricketers Ian Chappell and Ian Botham have been considered the greatest players of Australia and England, respectively. Notably, the two are still at odds today, nevertheless, as a result of a heated argument they had in 1977.
Chappell said that Botham raised the beer glass to his face and said that he will slice him from ear to ear. Interestingly enough, they were going to play each other the next day because he was playing club cricket for North Melbourne in Australia.
“When he put the beer glass to my face and said, ‘I’ll cut you from ear to ear,’ we were actually playing against each other the next day because I was playing for North Melbourne in club cricket,” Chappell told the News Corp.
He continued by saying that he told Botham that if he cuts him with a beer glass, it will only reaffirm his perception of him as a coward but if he cuts him with a cricket ball tomorrow, it will mean something. Furthermore, the 79-year-old said that he had told him that the ball needed to bounce first because if he did it with a full toss, he would likely knock him over the head with the bat.
“I said to him, ‘Mate, if you cut me with a beer glass it will confirm what I already think of you, that you are a coward, but if you cut me with a cricket ball tomorrow that would mean something. But the ball had better bounce first because if you do it with a full toss, if I am capable, I am coming down your end and I will hit you over the head with the bat,” he added.
I have no interest in Botham’s interests and I have nothing to talk to him about: Chappell
Chappell disclosed why he didn’t want to settle his issues with Ian Botham in the Channel 9 documentary “The Longest Feud.” He stated that he would accept an apology from Botham for the lies he told, but that he does not want to be friends with someone with whom he has nothing in common. The 79-year-old went on to say that he has no interest in his interests and has nothing to speak to him.
“I’ve had mates say, ‘Why don’t you just make up?’ and I say, ‘Well, firstly, if he wants to apologize for the lies he has told, I would accept that. But why would I make up and be friends with a guy who I have nothing in common with? I think his commentary is the worst of the long-term commentators, I have no interest in his interests and I have nothing to talk to him about,” the Australian said.