Ian Botham: The Power and the Glory

by Simon Wilde

Ian Botham arrived on the international scene just in time to ride sport's first big financial wave and exploit the Thatcherite mantra of go-out-and-get-what-you-want. He certainly needed the cash, having been regularly short since leaving state school in Yeovil at 15. In an era short on glamour and personalities, Botham brought an irresistible cocktail of talent, energy and swagger. With the stench of economic failure still in the air, he made the country feel good about itself again. He showed that Britain could still produce champions and that the working class still deserved to be valued. For this he won himself a fund of public goodwill, a fund he sometimes threatened to drain but uncannily managed to replenish.

He had an insatiable appetite, and an uncanny knack, for creating tales of heroism, but if he failed on that score there was always the chance of a scandal or two. He gave the media everything they needed for front pages and back, and some newspapers discovered that it didn't necessarily matter if the story was true or not, as long as he was in it.

Ian Botham tells the story a great piece of British sporting history, one of the of a man for whom the glamour and the grit came together. And it was the grit of the times in which Botham had grown up, and where he had come from.

Genres: Biography

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2011

Reviews

[Maganraj Bafna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Wilde, in this perfectly paced and exhaustively researched biography not only examines Botham’s life and career, but also reaches beyond the boundary to tell the story of the wider cultural and political context which helped to shape the unique success of a player who shook the game of cricket to its foundations.

Ian Botham arrived on the international scene just in time to ride sport’s first big financial wave. Botham couldn't have timed his hour of glory better. Amid economic misery and urban riots, Britain was desperate for uplifting stories, preferably with a patriotic angle. For an all too brief period as the 1970s gave way to the 1980s, Botham was the greatest all-round cricketer to have graced the game. The 1981 Ashes series defines him, his unforgettable contributions at Headingley and Old Trafford with the bat, and Edgbaston with the ball, being amongst the best known cricketing performances ever produced.

An entertainer as well as a sportsman, he was motivated by the cameras and the limelight as much as the desire to win. Wilde gets to grips with the man as well as telling the fascinating story of a great piece of British sporting history.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable reminder of that period in the 80’s when Botham, Gower and Willis conjured remarkable victories for England and all-rounders such as Hadlee, Imran, Kapil competed for bragging rights on the international cricketing stage. As cricket morphed from amateurism and drunken escapades into steely-eyed professionalism and dourness, Botham and his outsized personality and ego were there, hogging the limelight to the last.

This biography of the most remarkable cricketer and celebrity of that era - Botham the hero, yob, anti-establishment and big-hearted friend and fund-raiser - reminds us of how Botham dominated the public consciousness at a time when sporting celebrities were coming to the fore. In the decades since, Botham has continued to maintain a profile and prominence in the game and beyond that is truly remarkable.

[Andrew Hartshorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a beefy read! Powerful and dynamic, as others saw him. The book highlights the bludgeoning nature of I.T.Botham but also the complexities that accompany a force of nature in the game of cricket.

It was a riveting read and shows all sides to his character the reflection shows his sheer determination in everything he did.

It was as it was announced that the Test series between The West Indies and England was to be renamed the Botham-Richards Trophy that I approached the final chapter. A fitting tribute in these testing days to Lords of the game. His friendship with Viv Richards is noted as is his desire to pick-up friends wherever he could.

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 In a way this was the opposite of Tendulkar’s autobiography which was like a string of match reports. Wilde’s book focused largely on the off-field events and Botham’s personality.
For me, a sports biography is also about reliving some of the greatest matches with some refreshing insights. The book didnt talk about a single technical aspect of Botham’s game/skills and didnt provide connoisseurs with a deeper understanding of the game.
Might be a good read for fans of Botham interested in his personal life and eccentricities.

[Shravan Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best sports biographies I have read. It is quite well balanced and doesn't necessarily tilt on any side in this fascinating story of one of England's most charismatic cricketers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Grant Trevarthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid Cricket fan, I love reading books on some of the personalities involved, particularly the 70's & 80's when we were blessed with some of the greatest players in the modern era. N.Z's own Sir Richard Hadlee, Viv Richards,Dennis Lillee to name a few, there is one to my mind was perhaps the best all rounder Englishman Sir Ian Botham.
Born 24th November 1955, in Cheshire England, who would have guessed that he would guessed that in a career spanning 15 years 28th July 1977- 24th August 1992, he would bring a certain vitality and charisma to the game that was so in need of such a man. The swaggering swashbuckling style he played whether Bowling or batting,ensured that upon his retirement his career statistics spoke for themselves. 102 Tests,5200 runs,Batting Average 33.54,Highest score 208. 383 Wickets Avg 28.4.
116 One Day Internationals 2113 runs,23.21 average,145 wickets avg 28.54 Highest score 79.
In his First Class career playing for Somerset,Worcestershire,Durham counties he scored 19,399 runs and 1172 wickets, he is one whom I'll always remember.Although he was suspected of taking drugs and over indulging in his Alcohol consumption, he like anybody has flaws in his character and has more then made amends in his charity fundraising.
In this book, Simon Wilde, has presented a candid life story of one of the greatest players the sport of Cricket has ever known.

[Kurishin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even-handed account of Beefy's professional life, to include the boozing but largely not the women. Beefy's personality, motivations, successes, and failures are well-analyzed. A successful biography, which is rare in general and extremely rare in sportswriting. Well done!