Botham 16 off 4 balls - Edgbaston 1985

[MrCains820]

Love Thommos mullet.

[fungboy3]

I think whats more remarkable is the Botham factor everyone wanted to see him bat after Gower scored his double ton along with I think Gatting and Robinson making centuries. When Botham came out there was a banner that said "Hit em for 6". To do it first ball you face was extraordinary..it was not a bad ball Mcdermott bowled ... a half volley possibly but not back over his head for 6!

[1137moiz]

have to ask--what exactly does "typically Aussie salute" mean? If it's supposed to mean brash, vulgar, etc, then surely Beefy was the typical Aussie.

[Kewstu]

it was 18 off 6 balls

6 6 2 . 4 W

[nik1969100]

One Ian Botham, there's only one Ian Botham...

[DKLillee355]

yeah thommo giveing the crowd the "bird" bloody legend.

[Camelsarse]

@DKLillee355 I'ev still got the 1985 ashes on VHS somewhere as other then the last few years there's never been much to celebrate being a Pom. But I'll always remember Thompson giving the crowd the "bird". What a top bloody geezer!

[Bernie8330]

I read bothams autobiography just after he retired in 92 and he recounts this brief cameo innings something like this: 'I was always vaguely aware of my ability to supposedly empty bars whenever I came into bat, but this was the only occasion when I can actually distinctly rember doing it - people were hurrying back to their seats, desperately trying not to spill their drinks...' All the more remarkable considering it came in the wake of a magnificent double ton from David Gower!

[adsonkool]

16 from 3 balls kind of

[Smudger55555]

I was there at Edgbaston, i was about 12 at the time. We were sitting right where the catch was taken.

Geoff Thomson gave us the V sign as he dropped a catch earlier and took a bit of stick for it!!

[brianos34]

The six off the first all is may all time favourite cricket moment (closely followed by Jones catching Kasprovic at Edgebaston in 2005). I love Ian Botham.

I had an interview at Lord's for a job with the ICC in 2001 and got asked about my cricket interests..i described this incident and how I felt when Beefy tonked MacDermott for 6 (unfortunately I didn't get the job!!)

[fungboy3]

@brianos34 if you were not aware about the infamous Botham scoring a pair at Lords in 1981 Ashes test vs Aussies in which his return to the Pavillion was met with an embarrassing silence and deliberate ignorance. Botham has never got on well with the MCC at Lords because he was the bad boy compared you;re typical well educated cricketer. Part of that was because Botham deliberately refused to play the match when it was drying out with England being outplayed in the match

[kipps2]

The helpful fielder on that last ball gives an informative hand signal to the crowd to indicate that Beefy has hit 16 off the over.

[Sheza58]

Did any youtubers out there ever see Ian Botham play football for Scunthorpe United? I saw him when he came to Boothferry Park to play Hull City. Strange occasion that. Big crowd though.

[distantvoices]

Botham was a legend. He played with a smile on his face-and looked like he played for fun. In this day and age where sports people are so serious-it was a joy to see him play. The first rock n roll cricketer.

[belch1889]

That curly-top in the crowd with the maroon jumper was none other than my good self. I was disappointed that Thommo's two-fingered gesture was not quite aimed in my direction...

[wildernessuk]

Botham hit a record number of sixes in 1985 - 80 or so.... this clip misses the second six he hit here.....

But still a great moment - Beefy is a total legend!

[throbasonic1982]

It was the first time ever I'd seen a first ball 6, but he also blocked a couple after.

[Parrock1]

Jason, are you sure? I'd like to see some stats that back up your claim more sixes are scored now. teams score quicker these days but I'm not convinced it is because of the six count.

[Rentaghost76]

Mullets are ace...let's bring them back into fashion!

[kanewalker88]

what a gent

[JasonRadley]

This was when sixes in Tests were relatively rare.

[Kewstu]

he actually scored 18 in this innings and not 16, he hit 6,6,4,2 out

[OneBigRetard]

Matching mullets! Always thought Beefy was a wannabe Aussie. With that mullet and those shots he could be.

[ludocrat]

He'd have had a way to go to beat Thomson's mean, sheered, flat top effort - and with the nice touch of a quick V-sign flicked at the crowd, just to round off the image nicely when he caught Botham. A comprehensive victory in this encounter during the 1985 epic: battle of the peroxide mullet men.

[Durbs75]

Should have hidden in the clubhouse? What game are we playing here? Golf??!

[LeamingtonSteve]

Look no helmets! Todays players are poofs

[forestboy38]

The only true legend of English cricket - the Aussies run scared whenever they see him - he should be made coach for the world cup

[LiamE69]

Only true legend of English cricket? Where do I start... WG, Hobbs, Hammond, Hutton, Trueman, Compton, Woolley, Ranji, Laker, Barnes.......

[nickvilla20]

Quality stuff

[srminton]

Thomson was such an idiot....the match was lost...he should have hidden in the clubouse

[jonomarko]

Go head Beffy!!! He was a very inspireing player.

[batfinkandkarate]

Who was the bowler, Craig McDermott?

[thedys70]

Yes, a very young Billy the Kid it was indeed.

[ludocrat]

Geoff Thomson: worst mullet in the history of mankind. And the V-sign, I recall, was because the crowd had given him some almighty stick down there - probably for the mullet!

[feketepuss]

Wonderful memories. However, this wasn't four consecutive balls. Botham also scored a couple of single up the other end but refrained from going "over the top" because it was a longer boundary.

[mrsmash1]

gary sobers off of malcolm nash ? ;-)

[zboy123]

that reminded me of Kapil Dev's 24 of 4 balls but nothing betters six sixes guess who am I talking abt....

[josephus72]

Yes! Thommo!