Ian Botham
Source: , 22 August 2007 Personal information Full name Ian Botham Playing position Centre half Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1978–80 Yeovil Town 17 (1) 1980–85 Scunthorpe United 11 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). Sir Ian Terence Botham, OBE (born 24 November 1955) is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well known by his nickname "Beefy". While at times a controversial player both on and off the field, Botham also held a number of Test cricket records, and still holds the record for the highest number of wickets taken by an England bowler. He is generally regarded as being England's greatest ever all-rounder, particularly in Test cricket, although having earned celebrity status, his award of a knighthood was in recognition of his services to charity. Just like fellow cricketers Denis Compton, Chris Balderstone and Arnold Sidebottom, Botham was also a talented footballer, and made 11 appearances in the Football League. Botham was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2007 New Years Honours List and on 8 August 2009, was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.