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Somerset County Cricketers Ian Botham and Brian Rose

Ian Botham and Brian Rose tell it like it is - interviewed in 1977 Plus ca change

News 1977 3 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for South West Film and Television Archive

Overview

Somerset and England all-rounder Ian Botham and Somerset opener Brian Rose appear for the press at County Ground, Taunton. They are interviewed by Westward TV's Chris Fear. Botham has just returned from playing in the Australian Domestic League. Somerset CCC narrowly missed being promoted in 1976. The discussion centres on the difference between the way Cricket Australia and the English and Wales Cricket Board select their teams. They both go on to play for England.

The Australian Cricket team led by Gregg Chappell toured before the Ashes series against England in the summer of 1977. Somerset beat them in May at Bath and Botham made his Test debut for England on 28 July 1977 in the Third Test against Australia, where he took five wickets for 74 runs in the first innings. He went on to enjoy a Test career spanning 15 years, in which he played in 102 matches. He holds records for “doubles” of 300 wickets and 3000 runs, and was the first player to score a century and take 10 wickets in a test match.