Ashes 1981 5th Test 3rd Day

[@trenchantinsight]

Botham strolling out there without a helmet and completely dominating. Legend.

[@alanjm1234]

And completely transforming the match. It looked like Australia was giving themselves a chance of winning, but in one session Botham took that away from them.

[@johncourtneidge]

With Chris Tavare protecting the other end!

[@nicknewey6152]

Richie Benaud was a fixture in our living room throughout my teenage years. His analysis and informative viewpoint were outstanding. There will never be another Richie!

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@colinjennings3661]

Best commentator of all time in any sport.

[@michaelsmall4196]

Ritchie, for me, is the best commentator on any sport

[@garypearce3534]

Richie was and is the benchmark for all sports commentator's.

[@andrewcharley1893]

Nick,what a marvelous delivery you just made .

[@stevencarter87]

Would love Botham to be a young cricketer in the modern game truly inspirational 🏏

[@OrbvsTomarvm]

I know a lot of people won't rate him quite as highly as I do, but for me Botham was the most exciting crickter of the lot for me. He made something so magical that it's still so for me at 47. Same for Richards, Gilchrist, Warne and Lara. But it was Botham that opened my eyes to it all first. Thanks Both!

[@philipmarsden7104]

I fully agree with you. A lot of younger viewers would find it hard to believe, but Botham, in my opinion, didn't fulfill his potential and ought to have achieved more, so great was his talent. It was a different age then, few if any sport scientists, career planners and the like around, and distractions, such as injuries, adulation and those in his private life got in the way and took their toll. He was a genuinely great sportsman. On a slightly different note, that 80s Ashes team from Australia was a very good one, better than most and Botham gave them some punishment.

[@angelacooper2661]

Botham was my hero when I was growing up (here aged eleven and moving from junior to senior school). I rated him as a player and my interest in the game grew over the years. Now aged 52, this footage is 40+ years ago and shows a cricket match from childhood days!

[@axisfolate4300]

He still looks like a young bloke here, but if you look at highlights from 1985, he looks like he's pushing forty and carrying way too much timber. He was 29 in 1985 and although still a good player, was already on a downward trajectory that became more precipitous as he got into his early 30s. I wonder if modern training and pastoral care would have got the best out of him or would he still have drifted away once the great gifts started fading?

[@traceya9615]

​@@axisfolate4300I think he would have been able to keep the weight off, etc. with the pastoral care players have today. Once he'd got his back injury, it was difficult to come back from then. I thought he was courageous to carry on, really.

[@johncourtneidge]

@@traceya9615 yes.

[@gitfeatures1]

I stopped watching cricket when Ian Botham stopped playing, then suddenly a video showed up on youtube I dont know why I didn't look for anything cricket based but I had to watch it. Without a doubt the finest cricketer in my lifetime and probably one of the greatest sportsmen England ever produced and an all roungd good guy. Thanks for the memories!

[@ozking842]

Professional Footballer of his time as well..

[@boxingjerapah]

Best series of all time .. with Richie !

[@graemestarkey7524]

2005 was better.

[@martygrimsted4290]

If you gave the British public one chance to see Botham or Andy Murray in their prime now ,1million would choose Murray and 50 million would walk across broken glass to see beefy..

[@colingeddes2172]

💯

[@terranceparsons5185]

And the million watching Andy Murray would be tuned into the cricket!

[@gwynmaverickjames6098]

Was there ever a finer sight in cricket then botham smashing the ball all over the place maybe him bowling aswell but what a talent he was 🏏

[@fjasdfjdsakfjalfsjdalksfakjlk]

Botham was like a force of nature. Utterly unstoppable.

[@thedisabledwelshman9266]

ian botham. one of the best batsmen of to play for england.

[@jameshope398]

The greatest innings i ever saw Botham play

[@JP1234815]

@distantvoices This innings is very reminiscent of his last test century too. coming in with England having lost quick wickets and absolutely destroying a young Merv Hughes.

[@kevyarham]

Beefy used to have the whole Aussie team over for bbq,s when they were over here and they played hard but remain friends too this day..Ian Chappel excluded..great cricket memories of the 70s and 80s

[@rich5086]

Love Rod Marsh’s reaction when he catches Botham. So full of glee!!

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Yes,but the damage had already been done--Australia were not coming back from that!😊

[@andrew7440]

Probably just lost another £5 bet....

[@richardhelliwell1210]

Legend has it that the match had ended before Tavare got to 50.

[@JP1234815]

If Tavare hadn't looked like batting for the rest of eternity!! then I very much doubt you'd have seen the innings from Botham at the other end. If wickets were falling regularly at the other end Brearley may have ordered Botham to reign in his natural game.

[@mikefriend1514]

The British High Commission in New Delhi would show the highlights reel (literally a spool of film loaded onto a projector) in the community hall a couple of days after each days play had ended. Somewhere in the Bowels of the BBC there was a production line producing these highlights for the benefit of Foreign office staff in far flung posts. Would still love to know how this was organised. Despite everyone having listened to TMS late into the night and having read the news reports, the hall was still packed out for Bothams Ashes. Wonderful memories.

[@singhguru2513]

Woah so you were posted here in New Delhi 1981??

[@angelacooper2661]

I was eleven and had left junior school the previous month, starting senior school the following month. Alas, I don't remember watching the actual footage but read about the Aussie tourists in the Radio Times.

[@colingeddes2172]

In my 56 years on this planet i can genuinely say it was the best 2 hours entertainment ive ever seen on a cricket field thanks to the legend that is I T Botham

[@adamgutteridge9664]

Chris Gayle and Ian Botham: the best eyes in cricket; they never miss the ball

[@anthonybailey1966]

Love the editing fault here,presumably by the bbc....we were told England had only lost one wicket at the start of this day's play....we saw a couple of shots,no wickets....then at 1:12 the scoreboard said 79 for 2!!! We saw that wrongly BEFORE Boycott was didmissed by Alderman! 🤦‍♂️

[@zenmilind]

That was the era when 4 great All-rounders Botham, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadley & Imran Khan were playing ..Ian Botham I thought was more dangerous bcoz he could damage the opposition with both bat or ball frequently. But that era was dominated by West Indies pace battery... Michael Holding, Malcom Marshal, Joel Garner, Andy Roberts, Collin Craft.. West Indies dominated that era & were almost invincible.

[@popeyedish]

Great to see Tavare play one of his swashbuckling innings.....

[@jahno7154]

That six off Alderman what a beautiful crack sound of the bat what a innings in what looked like poor light.

[@JP1234815]

Chris Tavare 50 in 219 balls!! People would be criticising a batsman for scoring a century off that number of deliveries today!!

[@abstractradio1969]

Lovely stuff - thank you.

[@jimififul]

The good old days - Botham using a bat for head protection.

[@paulbennett4315]

only one boundary 4 in the whole morning session..... then...Armageddon....lion of a man!!

[@pradeepdalal7798]

Loved Richie' s dressing style, no less than Richie Rich

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

I would not want to be in line to catch anything of the middle of Beefy’s bat. Robin Smith had a ferocious square cut but all of Beefy’s middles shots were like rockets.

[@ianhenderson6657]

Jim Laker was Richie Benaud’s equal as a commentator.

[@saraandhughtuckey1284]

I remember that opening partnership , Tavare and Boycott , 5 runs an hour was putting they're foot down 😂

[@jim_afcb8006]

40 years ago tomorrow as I type this... one of the great cricketing summers, if something of a curate's egg for England fans. Anyone else spot the BBC's editing error about a minute in?

[@JP1234815]

Yep, the scoreboard read 79-2 before showing Boycott's wicket (Boycott 2nd out)

[@luxpursuits]

Botham was soooo handsome back then with his Jesus beared

[@JP1234815]

What a great innings from Ian but what on earth were they thinking of in the first session? 9 runs in the first hour, 20 in the second, 1 boundary scored (by Gatting) and 3 needless wickets!! It would have been better if ESPN Classic had interviewed Mike Brearley and one or two other cricketers and asked what the tactics had been ahead of the day's play, how these tactics had changed for the afternoon session and again for the evening session. I can't believe the tactics were 'Bat as if you're trying to save the game'!

[@andrew7440]

Well the Aussies only had 3 quick bowlers, most likely they wanted to put some miles in their legs.

[@JP1234815]

@@andrew7440 It was quite obvious England wanted to bat to lunch on the 4th day no matter what - just by the way Emburey, Willis and Allott batted after Knott fell early that day (Allott had more or less blocked for over an hour then suddenly unleashed an attempted straight drive just before lunch!!) Englnd would have set Australia 550+ by scoring at 3 RPO during the morning of the 3rd day's play.

[@swaminathaniyer399]

When Iron Bottom hits the ball they stay hit.

[@jamesbutler6253]

Botham's two fingers to the aussies - no helmet and hitting every bouncer for 6. They couldn't intimidate him.

[@robertkingston6164]

Wait, in one highlight the commentator mentions that they're just about to take lunch, and in the next one Tavaré scores his eleventh run of the day? He was in over night! God, he was slow.

[@marknewbold2583]

Held that team together

[@jameshope398]

I remember Lillee bowling very fast at Botham that day and Botham swatting sixes off his eyebrows then Lillee ducking from a shot by Botham that would've took his head off

[@hippophile]

Botham, Knott, Benaud! And Dennis Lillee getting smashed all over the park! What more could you want?

[@FranssensM]

Morning everyone.

[@garymitchell277]

Tavaré

[@koreainsincere]

He doesn't even look at the ball when Lillee bounces him for christ's sake, he just smashes it. Absolutely ridiculous.

[@peterchessell28]

Marsh lillie Benaud Dilly and Willis rip.

[@alancornish3549]

Excellent true expert forgive him for being an aussie

[@ukphone4183]

Botham was fat player ❤❤❤

[@aliafaaqkhan2176]

i bet aussies badly missing thommo.

[@vantheman1238]

What mustn’t they do Richie???

[@JP1234815]

The Australian's were so used to bowling wide of off stump and not being punished in the 1st session, and to some extent the last session of the 2nd day, that they found it difficult to adjust their line and length. It was too late by the time Sir Ian had got into his 30's - he (Botham) had his eye in and had taken the game away from Australia already.

[@colingeddes2172]

I remember watching this vintage innings from botham in my mum and dads front room back in 81 and what entertainment. Great commentry from benaud describing botham hooking lillie off his eyebrows and saying he plays that shot very well like he was smashing a fly. Priceless. I,d go as far as to say this was the finest century i ever saw from an english cricketer in a test match

[@jim_afcb8006]

@@colingeddes2172 I think Stoke's innings at Headingly in '19 gives it a good run for its money....

[@bobhills3392]

Mick

[@JP1234815]

Anybody know why Knott wasn't selected for the previous 4 test matches? Of the 3 wicket keepers used I would think he was the best in the country.

[@markhiggins8315]

Alan Knott had been out of favour since the Kerry Packer world series matches and hadn't played for England at all between 1977 and this series. Bob Taylor, an absolutely first rate keeper had been the regular selection in the mean time. Taylor was an exceptional keeper, some say at least the equal of Knott, personally I think Knott was the best I've ever seen behind the stumps. Taylor's batting wasn't anywhere near as good as Knott's.

[@JP1234815]

@@markhiggins8315 Alan played in the first 4 tests of 1980 against the West Indies . He was unlucky with his batting but was his usual brilliant self behind the stumps. Thought he might have been injured but looked on Cricket archive and he played in all games (1 Day and County Championship). He would have strengthened England's lower-middle order and would have been my choice over Paul Downton and Bob Taylor.

[@markhiggins8315]

@@JP1234815 Sorry, I didn't recall him playing in the 1980 West Indies series. I totally agree that he was a very clear first choice over both Taylor and Downton. Taylor was a very fine keeper but I thought Knott was even better. I thought that Downton was very overrated as a keeper, not in Taylor or Knott's league. As far as batting was concerned Alan Knott was much better than both of them and was a huge asset to England's middle order for years. Knott scored 5 centuries and around 30 half centuries in test cricket and although he averaged over 30 it didn't represent his true worth as Alan often had to come in in either difficult situations or under pressure to go for quick runs. Some years I can recall Knott finishing the season averaging in excess of 40 per innings in county cricket for Kent.

[@JP1234815]

@@markhiggins8315 Couldn't agree more. The England selectors made some weird decisions around that time. Bob Taylor, in his own words, saw himself as an occupier of the crease, while the batsmen at the other end scored runs around him. Alan always put the pressure back on the bowlers, either with quick singles, his customary late cut, sweep or pull/hook. England were indebted to Alan's batting both at Old Trafford (lovely 59 before being brilliantly caught at third man), his First innings 36 at the Oval or his 70 not out in the 2nd which helped secure the draw. Just strange to only play in those last 2 matches

[@markhiggins8315]

@@JP1234815 I really think that Geoff Boycott in particular owes Knotty enormous gratitude. If you recall on Boycott's return to test cricket in the 3rd test at Nottingham in 1977 against Australia after three years of self imposed exile, he was struggling at Trent Bridge. He'd run out local hero Derreck Randall and was really struggling for form as England's batting was collapsing around him. At around 80 odd for 5 Knott came in with Boycott having made no more than 27 or so. Almost immediately Knott set about the Australian attack with his usual range of unorthodox shots. Knott completely changed the mood of the game taking the pressure off Boycott. At close of play Knott and Boycott were both unbeaten on 87. Both men went on to make centuries the next morning, Boycott around 107 ish and Knott 135. Boycott's second England career blossomed from there, making his 100th first class century in the next test at Leeds. If it hadn't been for Knott things could have been very different for Geoff.

[@ynotnilknarf39]

Gower being a lazy shot maker as usual. COuld have being so much more but far too casual throughout his career.

[@deanwalker870]

Richie. He will never be replaced.

[@gimmigota1]

So great to listen to Late. Richie Benaud's commentary. Oh man, that was the era cricket was simple and elegant.

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@jeffhawkins3942]

I was a 12 year old kid on holiday at Walton on the Naze. I remember my grandad calling me into the caravan, to watch Botham on the telly hit this great century. I was so lucky to live through the 81 ashes series...... brilliant

[@cogidubnus1953]

I was 27 and listening to this on the radio at work...but like you I remember it so well and feel privileged to have lived through the 1981 Test Series...

[@kevinmassey7675]

The Headingley test was the one that changed me from barely interested in cricket and couldn't play at age 11, to obsessed with it and getting to the latter stages of trails for Warwickshire 3 years later......

[@angelacooper2661]

Jeff, you are therefore a year older than me as I was eleven and moving from junior to senior school. Botham inspired my fascination for the game ever since - 42 years later and 53 in four months' time!

[@kevyarham]

We're similar age my friend and 70s and 80s summers watching cricket with my Dad.

[@stepheng8779]

Old Trafford looking a lot better than it does now.

[@traceya9615]

Yes, a bowl of corporate 💩 unfortunately.

[@michaelcook5830]

The Australian players sportingly applauded his walk to the Pavillion....they knew they were in the presence of greatness.

[@colingeddes2172]

Were they ever !

[@chrishall8705]

Me and my mate were fidgety 13 year olds at Old Trafford that day. We couldn't watch Tavare and the struggling Gatting so we got on a train to Rochdale to watch Blackburn Rovers in a pre season friendly. The rest, as they say, is history.

[@Wally-H]

Tavare used to take a lot of stick for slow play but his innings was just what England needed to support Botham. Great play from both players.

[@JP1234815]

Also helped the likes of John Emburey and the rest of the tail to get up to 400. Lillee said afterwards that the bowlers were 'knackered' by the end of the England 2nd innings.

[@trevorchamp3544]

It was a great all round team effort, but the need for a hero and a talisman brought out the best in Botham. I went to the Oval in 85 and just remember the aura of anticipation around the ground as Botham came out, such was the presence of the player. Both those Ashes series were fantastic entertainment

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@garfield4108]

Incredible to watch. I've just watched all that. If ever there was a sportsman who could lift a nation and light an arena it was Botham. (And the BBC said Andy Murray was arguably Britain's greatest sportsman the other week....I beg to differ) Great to see Tavare and Knott. And the sound that pull shot made when Botham pulled Alderman...wow! Echoed round the ground.

[@mazharhussain7983]

I agree

[@oleggorky906]

Yeah, well, the BBC always did talk bollocks. All they seem to know about is how to make excuses for kiddy fiddling scum.

[@sunilkp70]

His first 28 came in 53 balls, but his next 90 came in 49 balls! ODI & T20 combined. 👏😍💖

[@sunilkp70]

9:18 Botham lights the fireworks.

[@markhayward7400]

In the summer of '81 I went to London from York to take part in a National Union of Students protest march against the Thatcher Govt. One of the banners being waved during the march read : "THATCHER OUT! (LBW bowled Alderman)" This will always sum up the summer of '81 for me!

[@angelacooper2661]

I was eleven and left junior school that summer, moving to senior school in the autumn. Botham was my hero during my formative years. Takes me back to childhood memories!

[@doffer1463]

I was there that day (near the front down by the scoreboard at the Warwick Street end). It'll stay with me forever. Magnificent! Loved going to Old Trafford back then. I look at it now and it could be anywhere. It looks soulless.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Oh Richie. I miss you mate.

[@koreainsincere]

Don't we all. So many iconic commentary moments. His velvet tones were the soundtrack to my youth. "In the air. And six!" "In the air. And again!" He should have lived forever that man.

[@ks-eq3yx]

Did Botham plant the seed for bazball? A lovely combination this video, the brute strength of Botham in full flow, and the comforting tones of Benaud in the commentary box.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Can't believe how much Old Trafford has changed. It looked so basic. Remember those days well. Nostalgia, much.

[@lewisgreen2957]

Terry Alderman was a superb bowler..

[@michaelcook5830]

Very accurate, could drop it on a postage stamp consistently, and was much underrated.

[@pradeep6828]

Ian Botham was better than many main batsman of English team. He could have managed 40+ batting average ,if he had taken his batting seriously

[@davidbrooks187]

Agreed, Botham came in at number six and many times he was chasing a total for the day & tried to hit as many boundaries as possible and or remained not out as he run out of tail end batsmen. For the first six years of his career he had an amazing average that rivalled the openers.

[@vijayiyer8518]

@@davidbrooks187 was his average inflated by many not outs, as is the case with many middle order batsmen ?

[@davidbrooks187]

@@vijayiyer8518 bothams batting average was incredible in the first six years of his England career & comparable with opening batsmen. In the latter half of his peak England career 1983 to 1987 Botham used to come in to bat at number seven at the end of the innings and many times the damage had already been done / runs had been achieved by the previous England batsmen and a declaration was impending and he either retained his bat or would know that England was declaring. at the end of the day, so he would not bat conservatively and would make 20 or 30 runs & get out entertaining the crowd which affected his overall batting average.After the back operation in 1998 he was unable to bat or bowl to the previous Heights and standards he achieved. He was still a great player but it was between the years of 1976 and 1987, that botham was unsurpassed as an all rounder.

[@vijayiyer8518]

@@davidbrooks187 Thanks for your detailed response

[@davidbrooks187]

@@vijayiyer8518 You’re Welcome 👍

[@JP1234815]

I remember watching this days play back in 1981 and the BBC constantly going to and from the cricket to horse racing!! The BBC cut to horse racing when England were about 114-5 and I was greatly surprised (and delighted!!) that England had put on almost 30 runs by the time they returned 15 minutes later!!

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Yes,Botham had actually overtaken Tavare's score by the time we returned from the racing,going from about 28 to 64 in rapid time!😊 But it was important for Botham to have someone solid at the other end-- he couldn't have batted the way he did if wickets had been tumbling.😊

[@graemestarkey7524]

They would cut to the horse racing for ten minutes of horses walking round in a circle, a race that lasted two minutes then nearly ten minutes of looking at the race again and the horses walking around again.

[@paulmillen7331]

Yes. The main reason I hate Horse Racing!

[@mjp8648]

@@paulmillen7331 Not just me then! In addition to the cricket, it would also be shown during Grandstand. Would regularly switch over to World of Sport when came on!

[@johnperkins4611]

Great times. All in creams,no bloody corporate logos,real boundaries...

[@flash8854]

Age 10, after I've watched Ian Botham and Ian changed my life and played cricket since.

[@markarnold8160]

Likewise I was 13 and had been interested in the game since 1978 but had just started playing. It took me 30 years to stop playing 🤣 Botham was one of my first heroes.

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Botham's finest Test innings.He looked like a great batsman that day and not just a high class slogger...😊😋

[@davidbrooks187]

Botham was a truly world-class batsmen and did it time and time again and when it was needed throughout the late seventies to the late 80s.

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

@@davidbrooks187 Agreed,he was great coming in at 6 or 7 and often dug England out of a hole.But he always had his bowling to fall back on should his batting fail so his place in the side was secure for many years.And his Test average of around 32 or 33 from 102 Tests is not world class.His defensive flaws were exposed by the West Indies quicks against whom he made a few fifties but not much else. But,hey,who cares?What a great all-rounder and entertainer!🙂

[@davidbrooks187]

@@andrewkennaugh1065 yes his overall average did not reflect what such a great world-class batsmen he was. In the first six years of his career his average was comparable to openers however in the last part of his career the average slipped this was partly due to him coming in at six or seven and either running out of partners or not playing himself in tactically because he knew he wouldn’t have long at the crease anyway. But averages do not tell the full story. Botham did it time and time again when it was mostly needed either with the Bat or the ball even in his latter years He was able to create something magic and turn the game around at crucial moments. He what an absolute genius & all-time great all-round cricketer .

[@johncourtneidge]

@@davidbrooks187 yes! Thank-you!

[@Edogawa1117]

Fat Gat hooking Lillie while wearing no helmet. Awesome stuff.

[@martingonzalez6915]

Jabba the Gat.

[@vantheman12welshman66]

I grew up on miners strikes, warm milk, and thankfully Ritchie Benaud

[@irfansheikh2846]

I am from pakistan but instead of imran khan , ian botham was my ideal. I was a teenager. what a player. I miss him. he brought so much excitement to cricket. cricket is not the same with botham gone.

[@Bernie8330]

There have been many many great players since Botham retired.

[@jonathangammond3019]

Great watching Alan Knott. He might have enjoyed Twenty 20 cricket if they had had it in his day. Except he might have found it too predictable.

[@vernrussell99]

Chris Tavaré while slow was there with Botham playing second fiddle, also a very important innings , but Botham was outstanding

[@robboxify]

Tavare's runs in the first innings were instrumental in england getting a 1st inning lead

[@thadtuiol1717]

Botham's 118 of 102 balls would still be impressive today in a test match, but it must've seemed an amazing SR back in 1981!

[@angelacooper2661]

Especially as then I was eleven and now am 52. Botham was my childhood hero and responsible for this fan becoming mad about the game!

[@vantheman1244]

“Mustn’t give him room outside the off-stump” “mustn’t give him room outside the off-stump” “have they not learned anything from Headingly they mustn’t give him room outside off-stump” “ahhh they’re just not learning at all the Australian bowlers” 😡 “they’re just not learning they mustn’t give him room outside off-stump” 🤬 Love Ritchie ❤️

[@david_g_barron]

Strange to think that watching Ian Botham hooking Dennis Lillee for those sixes, misses the fact that in that series and the calendar year that the latter was in the bowling form of his career, taking 85 wickets in the 13 Tests that he and Australia played that year, including 39 in the 1981 series, and Terry Alderman took 42 wickets in the series as well.

[@SuccessShared]

It's the sheer entertainment factor of Botham! Fabulous

[@philipraiswell3570]

2 hours and 3 minutes of sporting glory!! What an innings!

[@JP1234815]

Ian Botham v Chris Tavare. Has there ever been a partnership in Test cricket where the 2 batsmen in the middle batted so differently to one another?

[@silgen]

England and Australia might argue over who had the best cricket team over the years, but even as an Englishman I have to said there's no doubt Australia produce the best TV commentator. And a bloody good cricketer too.

[@colindale1562]

How many would Botham have got if Tavare had got out? Listen to Richie Benaud summarise... class knew class. Watched Chris mascerate bowling attacks all round the St Lawrence forty years ago... and a jolly nice bloke too. Bored of people not born then trying to comment on stuff they never saw.

[@stationers]

Simple TV coverage with class commentary - not many cameras and no overblown SKY analysis . Let the story unfold naturally. This was when l watched cricket.

[@philroberts1103]

Sadly I missed his innings because I was busy and didn't come home until during the tea interval. By then Australia were sinking fast after the beating they had received from Botham. Any fight from their attack was pretty well spent. I heard the TMS commentary and their tone was odd as if they had experienced something that they were still recovering from. It was only watching the highlights that gave you some impression of how the australians had come apart in this session.

[@christophertull7787]

legend,the man the player,richie

[@johnjjl]

the greatest living Englishman, still

[@peterbrown6224]

The Australians applauding Both out. Very sporting.

[@iainsharp7486]

Blue ? Where's the off-white, the ivory, the cream or the beige ?

[@johncourtneidge]

Botham, yes. But without Tavare . . . Then reliable Alan Knott. It must have been nip and tuck between him and Marsh for total catches . . .

[@masoodahmed2041]

This series was when my cricketing induction began a 9 year old completed enthralled by the game, for me Headingley remains the greatest test match of all time.

[@markbriten6999]

A la viv Richards. When asked why hebdidnt wear a helmet he saiD ive got nig nit of woodwa

[@sfwplant]

Jim Laker - "What a magnificent way to go to a six".

[@terranceparsons5185]

I thought I misheard when I watched this on the BBC!

[@magiccat4316]

I was there. Remember this Botham innings well and Tavare anchored the other end.

[@surisuri8993]

Only difference between Beefy then and Beefy now, if he played today he'd be your opener 😅

[@shannontaylor3637]

Cricket in the 80s was definetly better and more exciting than it is today. We might have flintoff and James Anderson in this modern era but you still cant beat the 80s with team spirit, legendary batting and field play even crowd participation.

[@graemestarkey7524]

Ahhh..... the myths of the good old days. There was plenty if drab and poor Test cricket in 1980s. Three runs an over was considered a good run rate in a day.

[@garymitchell277]

Got to love Taveré

[@marshlightning]

Best game in the world. Action all the time.

[@markbriten6999]

Only otjer thomg to ssy if no-one dtays eith jom ots no use

[@tonyduff5141]

I think I am right in saying that the following day was the first Sunday ever that Test match cricket was played. Playing myself on the Sunday we had to gather around the radio to keep track of Botham's epic bowling feats on Day 4 of this match.

[@JP1234815]

Almost right Tony. The first Sunday play was in the Edgbaston test.

[@mattmerritt5541]

Sorry, almost right again. First Sunday play was in the first test of this series, at Trent Bridge.

[@FriendlyHenry]

Alan Knott appreciation post. #superkent

[@asarvattara]

True legend of the game

[@drdavid1963]

One of the great test innings (I 'm talking about Botham not Tavare!). So many great shots - my favourite being his pull in front of square over mid-wicket off Alderman. The crack of the ball on the bat is such a magnificent sound. Interesting to note, Tavare was 49 when Botham came in and he was 69 when Botham got out. In between, of course, Botham scored 118!!!

[@stepheng8779]

Both good innings. Can't have one without the other. Did you not see the state of the match?

[@drdavid1963]

@@stepheng8779 I watched it live

[@drdavid1963]

@@stepheng8779 Tavare's was a supporting innings. Botham's was a match-winning innings. That's the difference. OK, you can't have won without the other but, Tavare's innings was a contribution, a footnote in history whereas Botham's was one of the greatest test innings ever seen