They have a rich history of producing quality pace all-rounders including current Test captain Ben Stokes and youngster Sam Curran. Stokes has already scored over 5000 runs in Test cricket and is six wickets away from 200 wickets. Former cricketer Andrew Flintoff, with over 200 wickets and nearly 4000 runs in Tests, is another example of a pace all-rounder from English cricket.
However, before Flintoff and Stokes, it was Ian Botham who was arguably one of the best all-rounders in the world. Botham made his Test debut in August 1977 and dominated world cricket in the 1980s. When he retired in 1992, he was the leading wicket-taker in Tests with 383 wickets in 102 matches.
Botham, a right-handed batsman, also scored over 5000 runs in Tests with 14 centuries. He certainly remains England's leading wicket-taker behind current legends James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Flashback to Ian Botham's Heroism
Botham made this unique record against India during the tour of England to celebrate India's 15th anniversary in Test cricket. India won the toss at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and captain Gundappa Vishwanath decided to bat first. Botham produced his best spell in red-ball cricket, taking six for 58 to dismiss the hosts for 242. Sunil Gavaskar top-scored with 49 off 68 balls.
The right-arm pacer picked up big wickets for Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, the latter on a golden duck. He continued that momentum with the bat, scoring 114 off 144 balls to help England post 296 in their first innings.
But he was not done as he produced another remarkable spell in India's second innings. Botham took seven for 48, including the wicket of Gavaskar, to bowl India out for 149. Then English openers Graham Gooch and Geoff Boycott chased down the target of 96 runs without losing a wicket and with a day to spare.
Botham's 114 in the first innings and 13 wickets in both innings made him the first cricketer to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test match.
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