Afternoon Dan. Back in the day used to love watching Beefy Botham (don't get too excited ST, he's heterosexual) ramming it up the Aussies big style. Always have supported England at cricket and always will. Plus it's a man's game unlike football which is played by pansy big girl's blouses these days. I mean just look at the Celtic team, everyone as gay looking as ****.
WITH just one day before the 2013 series gets underway, it's time to look back at the time an Ashes legend was born. Ian Botham will be remembered for many things from his colourful career, but none will be remembered as fondly in England as his Headingley heroics from 1981. It was the quintessential all-rounder's performance, as the man known as "Beefy" claimed six wickets in one innings and hit 149 in another to seal a famous win for England. REWIND 10 days and Ian Botham was skulking off Lordâs with a pair to his name. Selectors responded to a second Test draw, which left Australia 1-0 up in the series, by replacing Botham as captain with Mike Brearley. Botham, happy to be free of the millstone, took six wickets as Australia declared at 9-401, and then made 50 as the hosts were rolled for 174. England fell to 5-105 in their second innings yet Botham, with his team at odds of 500-1 (snapped up by Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh), came out intent on action. "I just thought if we go down, let's go down burning," he said. His innings started as a hopeless slog but a lucky hand of 56 from Graham Dilley allowed Botham the time to plunder 149, the century coming off 87 balls. Australia needed 130 and were cruising at 1-56. Bob Willis changed ends and grabbed amazing figures of 8-43 as Australia collapsed 18 runs short. The England players won the series 3-1 and went from perennial laughing stock to national heroes. Still to this day if itâs raining during an Ashes Test there's short odds on what game is being shown in perpetual replay on English TV.
Seriously though ER, it is indeed a Man's Game. Only people who have never played REAL Cricket think it's for pansies. It's fantastic fun to play but I'll be honest and say that 5 day tests leave me a bit cold nowadays. It's ok for security guards and the like to sit and watch while getting paid and having nothing better to do but I prefer the 40-40 games or 1 day internationals.
Boycott was like watching paint dry though Dan. Beefy and Mike Gatting, David Gower, they were the boys.
Bob Willis as well. Any **** that says cricket is gay should try and actually hit the ball without your hands vibrating or being hit in the goolies or the head with the ****in ball. Absolute ****in agony. Footballers these days are just softies.
