The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : To Beefy, with love

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 25, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

To Beefy, with love

FAISALABAD: As former all-rounder Ian Botham turned 50 on Thursday, the current English side touring Pakistan has penned him a birthday message to mark the day.

"Congratulations, Ian. This must be one of your slower 50s," reads the message.

"You are an inspiration to many of us in the dressing room for the way you played the game. We wish you all the best on reaching this milestone."

`Beefy' will spend his birthday watching the sport he loves; he is one of the commentators for Sky TV in Pakistan.

A frontline pace bowler and a buccaneering batsman of his era, Botham in fact has a successor in Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, who is hailed as the next Botham.

Full of praise for Flintoff, Botham says, "Freddie is an exceptional talent and he's grown into the position in the last couple of years."

"I love watching him play. I think he offers so much to the team. He's big-hearted and has got everything I like in players. He's gutsy; he gets out there and he does it. He's comfortably the best all-rounder in the world, and it's up to him how far he wants to go. The English public would love him to get up there," he says.

On being asked about the most memorable moment of his illustrious career, Botham says, "it would be difficult to pick out one moment because there are several milestones throughout your career, and not always to do with your sport."

"I take great enjoyment out of what other people achieve as well, like (my son) Liam's (rugby) career — and he's now branched into other things. I've had so many great moments and I hope I've got many more to come."

"It's always good beating the Australians — and it's even better to beat them out there. But the Ashes is just one thing. Ask me for the biggest highlight when I'm lying on my deathbed — then I'll tell you," he adds. — UNI

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