Sir Ian Terence Botham (born 24 November 1955) is a retired cricketer from England. Early in his sporting life he also appeared as a football player before concentrating on cricket.
Playing profile
Botham made his name as an all-round player, contributing significantly with the bat and as a bowler. He was also highly regarded for his fielding, particularly for taking catches and handling the ball in close positions. He remains a widely recognised and popular figure in British sport.
International career
During his time at the top level he appeared in more than 100 Test matches for England and produced some of his best performances in the 1981 Ashes series. That year England defeated Australia, and the campaign is frequently remembered as "Botham's Ashes".
After cricket
Following retirement from playing, he moved into broadcasting and regularly appears on television. He has also organised and completed lengthy charity walks to raise money for various charity causes.
In recognition of his services to sport and charity he was knighted in 2007.