They got within three runs of England's total before Thomson pushed a Botham ball straight to second slip where it burst through Chris Tavaré's mitts, only for Geoff Miller to sneak around the back and clean up the scraps, leading to the most famous pregnant pause in cricket commentary from Richie Benaud: "He's … got 'im!" 4: The 'worst ever' win in England (1989) The gates were thrown open for a day five that could last one ball, with 18,000 people turning up to watch the Queensland teammates push towards an unlikely victory.
With Border showing is trademark fight and Thommo doing everything he could to not get out, the pair ticked off half the required runs and made it through day four. Looking to win their first Ashes since 1975, the Aussies had a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth Test at the MCG, but a loss was basically locked in when Jeff Thomson joined Allan Border at the crease with one wicket left and still 74 runs to win. However, surely that would not be enough to force a victory … 2: Willis's Headingley miracle (1981)īorder and Thomson's partnership was so close to heroic, but they fell just three runs short. However, with the Sword of Damocles still dangling over his Test career, despite being stripped of the captaincy, Botham felt inspired to unleash one of the great knocks in Test cricket, plundering a stunning 149 not out from 148 balls to help England overhaul Australia's total and establish a teasing lead of 129 runs. Needless to say, the auspices coming into the third Test were not great, and England's downward trajectory looked set to continue when they were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 174 in reply to Australia's 9-401.īookmakers offered 500-1 odds for England to win the Test at the end of the third day, such was England's plight.
Having resigned from the England captaincy after failing to win any of his first 12 Tests as skipper, then recording a pair of ducks at Lord's and falling 1-0 behind in the 1981 home Ashes series, Ian Botham and England headed to Leeds at a low ebb.Īlready low on confidence, Botham was also humiliated by chief selector Alec Bedser, who came out in the press saying had Botham not resigned, he would have been sacked. ( Getty Images: Adrian Murrell/Allsport/Hulton Archive) Freed from the burden of captaincy, Ian Botham was able to play with a smile on his face again.
0 kommentar(er)
