Editing Ian Botham (section)

===Somerset and England (1981)===
The England captaincy had affected Botham's form as a player and in his last Test as captain, against Australia at [[Lord's Cricket Ground|Lord's]] in 1981, he was dismissed for a [[List of cricket terms#P|pair]].<ref name=EA81II>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41354.html |title=England v Australia, Second Test 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=24 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424053518/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41354.html |url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''Wisden'' editor [[Matthew Engel]], writing in ''[[ESPNcricinfo]]'', Botham "resigned (a minute before being sacked), his form shot to pieces" after that match.<ref name=ME/> Australia were then leading the series 1–0 after two Tests with four more to be played. Botham was replaced by the returning [[Mike Brearley]], who had been his predecessor until retiring from Test cricket in 1980.

Botham continued to play for England under Brearley and achieved the highpoint of his career in the next three Tests as England recovered to win [[The Ashes]]. In the third Test at [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]], Australia opened with 401 for 9 declared, despite good bowling by Botham who took 6 for 95. England responded poorly and were dismissed for 174. Botham was the only batsman to perform at all well and scored 50, which was his first Test half-century since he had been awarded the captaincy thirteen Tests earlier. Having been forced to [[follow-on]], England collapsed again and at 135 for 7 on the afternoon of the fourth day, an innings defeat looked certain. Bookmakers had reportedly been offering odds of 500/1 against an England win after the follow-on was enforced.<ref name=CMJ>{{cite web |last=Martin-Jenkins |first=Christopher |title=The great escape |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/253926.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=28 August 2009 |archive-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213153041/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/253926.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Botham, himself not long at the wicket, was the sole remaining recognised batsman as he was joined by the fast bowler [[Graham Dilley]], number nine in the batting order, with only [[Chris Old]] and [[Bob Willis]] to come. With able support from Dilley (56) and Old (29), Botham hit out and by the close of play was 145 [[not out]] with Willis hanging on at the other end on 1 not out. England's lead was just 124 but there remained a glimmer of hope. On the final day's play, Botham reached 149 not out before Willis's wicket fell. Australia, with plenty of time remaining, needed 130 to win and were generally expected to get them; but after Botham took the first wicket, Willis took 8 for 43 to dismiss Australia for only 111.<ref name=EA81III>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41434.html |title=England v Australia, Third Test 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=27 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727233809/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41434.html |url-status=live}}</ref> England had won by 18 runs; it was only the second time in history that a team following on had won a Test match.<ref name=CMJ/>

Botham's outstanding form continued through the next two Tests. In the fourth at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]], a low-scoring match left Australia batting last and needing 151 to win. They reached 105 for 5 and were still favourites at that point but, in an inspired spell of bowling, Botham then took five wickets for only one run in 28 balls to give England victory by 29 runs.<ref name=EA81IV>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41505.html |title=England v Australia, Fourth Test 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=24 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424061001/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41505.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In the fifth Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]], Botham scored 118 in a partnership of 149 with [[Chris Tavaré]] before he was dismissed. He hit six sixes in that innings.<ref name=EA81V>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41571.html |title=England v Australia, Fifth Test 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701124209/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41571.html |url-status=live }}</ref> England won that match to take a winning 3–1 series lead. The last Test at [[The Oval]] was drawn, Botham achieving a 10wM by taking six for 125 and four for 128.<ref name=EA8VI>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41632.html |title=England v Australia, Sixth Test 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730211513/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41632.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was named [[Man of the Series]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981.html |title=Australia in British Isles, 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710234722/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981.html |url-status=live}}</ref> after scoring 399 runs, taking 34 wickets and holding 12 catches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981/t_England_Batting.html |title=England Batting, 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030102206/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981/t_England_Batting.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981/t_England_Bowling.html |title=England Bowling, 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029020942/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/Australia_in_British_Isles_1981/t_England_Bowling.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Somerset won the Benson & Hedges Cup for the first time in 1981 and did well in the County Championship too, finishing third. They were again runners-up in the JPL, but a long way behind the winners [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]]. In the renamed NatWest Trophy (formerly Gillette Cup), Somerset were knocked out in the second round. Botham played in the B&H final at Lord's, in which Somerset defeated [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] by seven wickets. He took no wickets but provided Viv Richards (132 not out) with good support in the run chase.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41478.html |title=Somerset v Surrey, B&H Cup Final, 1981 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208035229/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41478.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Botham ended the season with 67 wickets at 25.55, a best return of six for 90 (for Somerset v Sussex) and one 10wM (sixth Test). He scored 925 runs with a highest of 149* (third Test) at 42.04; and held 19 catches.