The
1981 series held in England, was arguably the most exciting
of all Test matches ever played between England and
Australia. Ian Botham and Kim Hughes were named as respective
captains for the series.
The
first Test was held at Trent Bridge, Terry Alderman
and Trevor Chappell made their debuts. This was the
first Test match to have play on a Sunday, and a match
that didn't include a rest day for the first time. With
Trevor Chappell playing in the Test, it was the first
instance of three brothers playing for Australia. Kim
Hughes won the toss, and put England in to bat in conditions
that favoured bowling. Alderman took 4 wickets for 48
and along with Lillee, England were dismissed for only
185 runs. Only Allan Border offered any resistance in
Australia's reply, scoring 63 as the tourists were bowled
out for 179 by the England seamers. In their second
innings, England struggled to come to terms with the
conditions and were bowled out for 125, Lillee and Alderman
taking 5 wickets each, Alderman on debut taking 9 wickets
in the match. Australia won the match by 4 wickets,
scoring the 132 runs required to win.
Lord's was also an unlucky ground as far as the weather
went, the second day was abandoned due to rain. Australia
again won the toss and again put England in to bat,
and after compiling a very slow 311 all out, the match
was destined to end in stalemate. One bright note from
the innings was Geoff Lawson's return of 7 wickets costing
81 runs. Australia in reply scored 345 and took a first
innings lead. Ian Botham resigned as England captain
after bagging a pair and so ended a poor run of form
as England captain. At this point, the selectors had
to consider sacking Botham, but as history shows, they
didn't and what a relief for England that they didn't!
Mike Brearley was appointed England Captain for the
remainder of the series.
The
Third Test at Headingley will go down as the most famous
Test match of all time. Botham had managed to survive
the guillotine and remained in the England Eleven. Australia
batted first and made 401 for 9 declared, Dyson scoring
a century. Ian Botham was finally on form taking 6 wickets
for 95 after being released from the shackles of captaincy.
England in reply only managed to score 174, but it was
Botham who was the only batsman to offer any resistance
with a hard knock of 50. Kim Hughes enforced the follow-on
and Graham Gooch was dismissed for the second time that
day. When Botham came in to bat, England were out of
the match at 5 for 105. They soon lost another two wickets
and found themselves at 7 for 135. England still needing
92 to avoid an innings defeat were quoted at 500-1 in
the local bookmakers, both Lillee and Marsh placed a
bet on England winning. On the 4th day, Botham then
took the attack to Australia scoring his century in
only 87 balls, scoring his last 62 runs in boundaries.
Dilley supported Botham with a brave knock of 56, with
Old and Willis chipping in, Botham was left on 149 not
out at the end, England leading by 129 runs.
Botham
then started about the Australians with venom rarely
seen at Headingley. After he took the first Australian
wicket, Bob Willis then started to take wickets at regular
intervals. Australia were looking incredibly comfortable
before the first wicket fell on 56 and once this one
went, more followed and Australia were 8 for 75. Lillee
and Bright then put on 35 for the 9th wicket to cause
consternation in the England camp, but thankfully for
England, Willis took both remaining wickets to win by
18 runs. Bob Willis ended with 8 for 43, but it was
Ian Botham that won the Man of the Match award with
his 149 not out. It was only the second time in Test
history that the side following on had won.
England
batting first at Edgbaston scored only 189, Alderman
taking 5 wickets for 42 runs. Australia took a 69 run
lead after their first innings after scoring 258, John
Emburey returning with 4 for 43. England again struggled
and were bowled out for 219, Bright taking 5 for 68.
Australia only needed 151 to win. Ian Botham came back
into the attack with Australia needing 45 runs to win
with 5 wickets in hand. He then proceeded to take all
5 remaining wickets for 1 run and England won by 29
runs.
At
Old Trafford, England led by 101 runs after Australia
were dismissed for 130 runs. In their second innings,
England scored slowly, adding only 29 runs in one session.
Chris Tavare scored 78 runs in 423 minutes and was the
main reason for the slow run rate. Botham came in with
his side 5 wickets down for 104 runs. He started slowly
but then launched into the attack, scoring his 100 in
only 86 balls (1 less than his century at Headingley).
Botham hit 66 from eight overs off the new ball bowled
by Lillee and Alderman and helped England to 404 all
out. Border batting with a broken finger made a century
as did Yallop but it wasn't enough and they lost by
103 runs, despite scoring 402 in the 4th innings. Ian
Botham was for the third match in a row, Man of the
Match.
The
final match of the series ended in a draw, but only
just surviving by 3 wickets. Ian Botham took 10 wickets
in the match (34 in the series) but it was Alderman
who took the bowling honours finishing with 42 in the
series, the second best bowling by an Australian in
a series behind Grimmett. Lillee who took 11 in the
match finished the series on 39 wickets, 3 behind Alderman.
The
series over and the Ashes back in England, this series
would forever be known as Botham's Ashes. |
