Why Ignoring Botham Borders On The Insane (23 Apr 1996)

Why ignoring Botham borders on the insane

Bob Harris uncovers support for the also-ran from an old adversary

ALLAN BORDER, the former captain of Australia, has expressed his amazement that England have passed up the opportunity to bring Ian Botham on board.

Border, Test cricket`s highest run-scorer with 11,174 in 156 matches, was a more than interested observer to the politicking and posturing as the election of two England selectors drew near. He had no doubt at all that had the voting been back home in Australia, both Botham and Graham Gooch would have been automatic choices.

Border said: "The pride and the passion is missing from English cricket and Ian Botham was just the man to put it back. He and Graham Gooch would have been perfect. They come from opposite ends of the scale and would have serious debates about the players who should be involved.

"Gooch`s insight into what is needed will be invaluable, but it is Botham who could have lifted flagging spirits simply by being around the players."

Border said: "He would have brought flair and character to the selector`s job. He knows what it means to perform and who to pick to wear the colours with a bit of pride.

"I can understand that they were worried at Lord`s. After all, this bloke is larger than life, a rebel and a bit intimidating, but it should have been a case of suck it and see. After all, those who have been there before haven`t made much of a fist of things so far, have they?

`I have long had the feeling that the England players are put under too much pressure`

Border believes the younger members of the England squad in particluar would have benefitted from being around someone of Botham`s experience."He would be so helpful to someone like Dominic Cork, who has had a tremendous start and has now got to back it up," he said. "Botham knows exactly what he is going through because he has been through it himself, superstar one day and dunce the next.

"I have long had the feeling that the England players are put under too much pressure. They always seem to be playing for their places and being rubbished by the media.

"Botham is the sort to get them to go out and enjoy their cricket and build up the team spirit, which seems a bit thin on the ground.

"We always thought he was more like an Aussie than a Pom with his fierce competitive attitude, and we can`t pay a higher accolade to a rival than that.

"He was passionate about England and vocal about being involved. As an all-rounder he was top-shelf and we always saw him at his best. He is held in awesome esteem back home.

"He was the fiercest of our rivals but he was always the first in our dressing-room at the end of play with a beer in his hand, and if there had been any sort of disagreement on the pitch he would bring it up and defuse it before it could fester. That sort of attitude and spirit seems to be missing from England at the moment.

"It`s time the in-fighting was sorted out if England want any chance when we come over next year."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)