“I’m ‘Beefy’ - I haven’t changed!” he responded to the name question from Master of Ceremonies Wayne Phillips then added: “It’s very nice to have titles and all that stuff.”
ClubMulwala’s Anzac Lounge was packed with over 250 Test cricket fans reliving the cricket rivalry, particularly between Australia and England, with a four-legends line-up last Thursday night.
Englishmen Lord Ian Botham and John Emburey, and Australians Merv Hughes and Wayne Phillips took centre stage and all played well, mentioning many lighter moments on and off the field.
From 1977 to 1992, Lord Ian played 102 Test Matches which produced 5200 runs at an average of 33.54 and 383 wickets at 28.40. He captained England 12 times during 1980 and 1981.
A visit to a hospital in 1977 seeing youngsters with leukaemia convinced him to raise money for whatever could be done to improve the situation, after a doctor told him about a lack of funding.
As a result, the ‘Botham Walks’ began in 1986 – some covering about 1,000 miles – to raise money. “My wife of nearly 50 years Kathy and our daughter Sarah organised it all. I just walked,” he explained.
“We did 19 walks and raised millions of dollars over the years, with the money going into leukaemia research.
“There was a 20 per cent chance of survival with it when we started and now it’s up to 94 per cent. There’s now research into other forms of cancer and dementia.”
In 1992, Ian Botham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cricket and charity work, resulting in the title ‘Sir Ian’.
‘Sir Ian’ became ‘Lord Ian’ in 2020 after being awarded peerage, joining the House of Lords, an appointment which “shocked” him. “You can refer something back to Parliament. We can make a difference,” the 68-year-old said.
The fear of the best quartet of fast bowlers of all time over a period of 15 years from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s of world cricket domination by the West Indies under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards, to the funny instances away from the game enthralled the big crowd.
But the sad passing of Shane Warne, 52, on March 4, 2022 really touched these greats. “He was a fantastic cricketer, a great bloke – ten times a better bloke than a cricketer,” 62-year-old Hughes commented about the 708 Test wicket-taker in 145 Test matches.
“It didn’t matter who you were, you had his full focus. Shane was one of the most loyal mates I’ve had. I loved him. I miss him every day.”
Although Botham never played against the spin king, he met him for the first time in a Nike commercial in Sydney. “It was the start of our friendship. He did so much voluntary work such as going to schools to teach cricket to kids.
“He was one of the greatest cricketers, if not the greatest of all time – he put bottoms on seats. He’s box office and sadly missed.”
A right-arm fast bowler, Hughes represented Australia in 53 Test matches between 1985 and 1994, taking 212 wickets, including a hat-trick against the West Indies over two innings. A very useful lower-order batsman, the man with the big moustache scored two half-centuries in Tests and was a most effective nightwatchman. He spoke of his love for his home ground, the MCG and the Bay 13 crowd emulating his warm up exercises.
Emburey, 71, was a right arm spin bowler and a slightly eccentric but useful lower-order batsman with the style of a grafter. He was more notable as an economical performer than a ‘demon’ spin bowler, but on his day could leave the best batsmen groping outside off-stump with his guile and drift.
One of Emburey’s dangerous balls in his 100-wicket haul was his arm ball outswinger. In a short period of turmoil at the top level, Emburey captained England for two weeks of his 64 Test career.
Phillips, 65, played in 27 Test matches as a batsman and wicketkeeper. The South Australian made 159 on Test debut – the third highest score on debut by an Australian and, as light-heartedly advised, 41 more than Sir Donald Bradman on his debut!
Before the evening entertainment, Lord Ian, ClubMulwala CEO Alan Rowe and others joined Black Bull Golf coaching director James McCully for golf.
“It was a pleasure to play with such a gentleman,” McCully said. “He knows as much about golf as he does cricket and we look forward very much to him coming back anytime.” Botham had 34 points off a 16 handicap.
The longest ‘drive’, however, went to Phillips who didn’t play golf but had to drive his car nine hours from Adelaide because of grounded aircraft. He wasn’t going to miss the big night, understanding the calibre of the line-up, his role and the respect he has for the ClubMulwala CEO.
Melbourne comedian Tom Siegert, formerly of Yackandandah and Wodonga, started last Thursday’s 3 and ½ hour evening of entertainment. His jokes had the big crowd in fits of laughter.
Phillips was a brilliant MC and of course, Hughes is always in great demand to tell his great stories far and wide. Botham is also in great demand to appear widely throughout Australia. Locally, for example, he played golf at Thurgoona recently, officially opened Corowa Cricket Club’s new clubrooms two years ago and loved returning to ClubMulwala.
“He’s just so special and made an incredible contribution to fund raising. I’ve never been in awe of such another cricketer,” Phillips said.
“Australia is my second home,” Botham who, in 2021, was appointed UK’s Trade Envoy to Australia promoting two-way trade and investment. It’s a role he enjoys. “England and Australia working together – it’s just common sense to me,” the great man said.
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