Editing Ian Botham (section)

===Somerset and England (1981–82 to 1983–84)===
During this period, Botham played in 25 Tests. There were home series against both India and Pakistan in 1982; and New Zealand in 1983. His overseas tours were to India and Sri Lanka in 1981–82 (he took part in the inaugural Test played by [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]); to Australia in 1982–83; and to New Zealand and Pakistan in 1983–84.<ref name=ITBTests/> He played for England in the [[1983 Cricket World Cup]] and was a member of their losing team in the semi-final.<ref name=CAWCM/>

Botham's return to India was less than triumphant and ''Wisden'' took him to task for his "ineffectiveness with the ball". Having achieved a match analysis of nine for 133 at Bombay, where England were beaten on a poor pitch, Botham took only eight more wickets, at 65 each, in the last five Tests and ''Wisden'' said this "was a telling blow to England's chance of levelling the series".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152246.html |title=England in India and Sri Lanka, 1981–82 |publisher=WisdenOnline |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805000225/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152246.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

1982 was a good all-round season for Botham, especially as Somerset retained the Benson & Hedges Cup. In 17 first-class matches, he scored 1,241 runs with a highest of 208 against India (this was ultimately his career highest in Test cricket) at a good average of 44.32. He took 66 wickets at the low average of 22.98 with a best return of five for 46. England won their Test series against Pakistan by 2–1 and the one against India 1–0. Botham scored two centuries against India: 128 at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]] and his career high 208 at [[The Oval]]. Somerset finished sixth and ninth in the County Championship and the JPL respectively. They reached the quarter-final of the NatWest Trophy and their season highlight was retaining the B&H Cup they won in 1981. In the final at Lord's, Somerset dismissed Nottinghamshire for only 130 (Botham two for 19) and won easily by nine wickets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/42/42665.html |title=Somerset v Nottinghamshire, B&H Cup Final, 1982 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208034603/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/42/42665.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Botham toured Australia again in 1982–83 with England seeking to retain the Ashes, but Australia won the series 2–1 despite England winning, at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG), a Test described by ''Wisden'' as "one of the most exciting Test matches ever played". Botham had a poor series and tour. He played in nine first-class matches and scored only 434 runs at the low average of 24.11 with a highest of 65. He was no better with the ball, taking just 29 wickets for a too-high 35.62 with a best return of four for 43. He did, however, field well and held 17 catches, nearly two a match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154322.html |title=England in Australia, 1982–83 |publisher=WisdenOnline |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602162129/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154322.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Incidentally, it was during the subsequent ODI tournament - the annual [[Australian Tri-Series]], at the time called the "World Series" - that Botham opened the batting for the first time in one-day cricket. Thanks to the fielding restrictions in force in that tournament (and for ODIs in Australia generally since 1980), only two fielders were permitted outside the 30 yard circle during the first ten overs (now called a [[Powerplay (cricket)|Powerplay]]): and it was in the 9th match of the tournament, against Australia, that Botham opened the batting for the first time, with the idea that he was the batsman best equipped to hit the ball over the top.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/benson-hedges-world-series-cup-1982-83-60826/australia-vs-england-9th-match-65346/full-scorecard |title = Australia Tri-Series/World Series 1982-3, 9th match}}</ref> However, the tactic did not go as planned, Botham only scoring 19 and England losing the match. The tactic was more successful, two matches later<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/benson-hedges-world-series-cup-1982-83-60826/england-vs-new-zealand-11th-match-65348/full-scorecard |title = Australia Tri-Series/World Series 1982-3, 11th match}}</ref> against New Zealand with Botham scoring 65, but he was expensive with the ball as NZ chased the target successfully for the highest successful run-chase in ODIs at the time. England finished the tournament in third and last place and did not qualify for the finals.

[[File:Botham batting - geograph.org.uk - 257722.jpg|thumb|right|Botham batting at [[Trent Bridge]], 1983]]
In the 1983 English season, Somerset won the NatWest Trophy for the first time, defeating Kent in the Lord's final by 24 runs with Botham as their captain. They were very close to taking the JPL title too but, having tied with [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]] on 46 points, they were placed second on run rate. In the County Championship, they won only three matches and finished tenth. They were knocked out of the B&H Cup early. Botham had a good season with the bat, scoring 852 runs in his 14 first-class matches at 40.57 with a highest score of 152 among three centuries. He did less well with the ball: only 22 wickets at the high average of 33.09. New Zealand played a four-match Test series against England after the World Cup and, at the 29th attempt, finally defeated England for the first time in a Test match in England. England won the other three matches convincingly, however, to take the series 3–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155266.html |title=England in Australia, 1982–83 |publisher=WisdenOnline |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118113346/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155266.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Botham did little with the ball, the same story as in his whole season, but he did score a century (103) in the final Test at Trent Bridge (see photo).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/43/43989.html |title=England v New Zealand, Fourth Test, 1983 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710003221/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/43/43989.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the winter of 1983–84, England toured New Zealand from January to February and Pakistan in March. Apart from one innings at Basin Reserve in the first Test against New Zealand, Botham was a disappointment on this tour, especially as a bowler. He scored 138 in the first Test, sharing in a sixth wicket partnership of 232 with [[Derek Randall]] (164), but the match was drawn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/43/43989.html |title=New Zealand v England, First Test, 1983–84 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710003221/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/43/43989.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was a poor tour for England, all told, and described by ''Wisden'' as "ranking among the unhappiest they have ever undertaken". England lost both series 1–0. Botham left Pakistan after the first Test there, the one England lost, to have a knee problem investigated at home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153052.html |title=England in Fiji, New Zealand and Pakistan, 1983–84 |publisher=WisdenOnline |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128022045/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153052.html |url-status=live }}</ref>