Botham’s Ashes! #OnThisDay in 1981, Australia needed just 37 more runs to win with five wickets in hand. Then Ian Botham produced one of the greatest spells in Ashes history, taking 5 wickets for just 1 run at Edgbaston to inspire an unforgettable England victory. Australia chasing 151: 121... all out England: 189 & 219 Australia: 258 & 121show more

Don't forget Willis taking 8 wickets that won the match for England

Super match winner Ian Botham was …he could at any stage of the match win matches with both bat and ball …what a cricketer…an unbelievable talent …perhaps the most talented English cricketer ever…

We listened to this on the radio returning home from a holiday in Scotland, on the road between Glasgow & Dumfries when the match reached its dramatic ending. The royal wedding was just a few days earlier, several of the guests at our hotel in St Andrews watched the TV broadcast.

Still remember like it was yesterday, baking hot day, Botham is his absolute pomp. Crowd going mad. He was unplayable, speed, aggressive and skill, what a bowler in his peak years 💪

@walker_cricket A memorable victory for England.

Didn't want the ball..thought someone else should bowl.. thankgod Brearley told him..BOWL

The reason I fell in love with test cricket

No half centuries scored in the test on the four innings

Wouldn’t allow that these days, you can only watch made up teams with mercenaries. No Ashes in the peak of summer anymore

This clip will never get old

Our very own supermen in this series, him and Bob Willis.

Remember it well 👍

What a summer... school broke up on the morning of the final day of the Headingley Test; I remember checking the score in the telly shops on the way to the bus station, home in time for Bob Willis' extraordinary spell...it just carried on from there...all live on the BBC, too...

Was this the first Sunday of test cricket in this country

I was privileged and thrilled to be there. It was simply astonishing and jaw-dropping. Not sure mine has ever resumed its natural position. 😉🎊🏏

What a player, what a man. They don't make many like Beefy.

I was there. iNCREDIBLE day but John Emburey doesn't get the credit he deserves for getting rid of border. As for the pitch, I walked across it at the end to the presentations. Cracks you could put your hand in and bowlers footmarks like pot holes

Unreal

I was at a Sunday League game at Old Trafford and they updated the score from the test on the main scoreboard . The crowd were going wild as wickets fell at Edgbaston . Wonderful memories.

A wonderful day. Listening while at a John Player League game at North Marine Road, Scarborough. The full house erupted when Botham took the final wicket - then got on with supporting Yorkshire.

" Get the twirlers on and we can pack up and go home skipper" Brearley hands the ball to Botham and tells him to run in hard for one last push.....

Great memories

This was one of the first Sundays with Test cricket in England. My excitement at Edgbaston (enjoyed remotely) was followed a 90-minute masterclass from Zaheer Abbas at Lord’s (watched in person) scoring 129no as @Gloscricket crushed @Middlesex_CCC by 8wkts with 26 balls to spare.

I can still vividly remember watching this

Appearing in Preston.

He has been dining out on that summer ever since

. I was working outside this made great listening to the TV comms as the Oz team fell apart.

“The greatest cricketers can turn around a losing game …..Botham had that quality”- Richie Benaud

Greatest atmosphere I've been in ar a sporting event.