Editing Ian Botham (section)

===Somerset and England (1976)===
1976 was a significant season for Botham as he scored over 1,000 runs for the first time, completed his first [[century (cricket)|century]] and earned international selection by [[England cricket team|England]] in two [[Limited Overs International]]s. Somerset improved in the County Championship to finish seventh, winning seven matches. They were one of five teams tied for first place in the JPL but their run rate was less than that of [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]], who were declared the champions. Somerset lost their opening match in the Gillette Cup and were eliminated at the group stage of the B&H Cup. Botham, though, came on in leaps and bounds. He totalled 1,022 first-class runs in 20 matches with a highest of 167*, his first-ever century and he also scored six half-centuries.<ref name=CAbatFC/> With the ball, he took 66 wickets with a best of six for 16. He had four 5wI and, for the first time, ten wickets in a match (10wM).<ref name=CAballFC/> He played in a total of 22 List A matches, including the two for England, scoring 395 runs with a highest of 46.<ref name=CAbatLA/> He took 33 wickets with a best of four for 41.<ref name=CAballLA/>

In the County Championship match against Sussex at Hove in May, Botham came very close to his maiden century but was dismissed for 97, his highest score to date. The match was drawn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36053.html |title=Sussex v Somerset (CC), 1976 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201010045/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36053.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the month, Somerset played [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]] in a remarkable match at Taunton. Batting first, Somerset scored 333 for seven (innings closed) and then, thanks to six for 25 by Botham, bowled out Gloucestershire for only 79. The follow-on was enforced but Gloucestershire proved a much tougher nut to crack second time around. With [[Zaheer Abbas]] scoring 141, they made 372 and left Somerset needing 118 to win. Botham took five for 125 in the second innings for a match analysis of 11 for 150, his maiden 10wM. This match ended the same way as the famous Test at Headingley in 1981 but the boot was on the other foot for Botham here because he was on the team that enforced the follow-on – and lost. [[Mike Procter]] and [[Tony Brown (English cricketer)|Tony Brown]] did the damage and bowled Somerset out for 110 in 42 overs, Gloucestershire winning by just eight runs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36135.html |title=Somerset v Gloucestershire (CC), 1976 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192108/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36135.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Botham scored his maiden first-class century at [[Trent Bridge]] on Tuesday 3 August 1976 in the County Championship game against [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]] (Notts) who won the toss and decided to bat first. [[Derek Randall]] scored 204* and the Notts innings closed at 364 for 4 (Botham one for 59). Somerset were 52 for one at close of play. On day two, Somerset scored 304 for 8 (innings closed) and Botham, batting at number six, scored 80. At close of play, Notts in their second innings were 107 for four, thus extending their lead to 167 with six wickets standing. On day three, Notts advanced to 240 for nine declared (Botham one for 16), leaving Somerset with a difficult target of 301. At 40 for two and with both their openers gone, Brian Close changed his batting order and summoned Botham to come in at number four. Close himself had gone in at three but he was out soon afterwards for 35. With support from Graham Burgess (78), Botham laid into the Notts bowling and scored an impressive 167 not out. Somerset reached 302 for four in only 65 overs and won by six wickets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36135.html |title=Nottinghamshire v Somerset (CC), 1976 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192108/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36135.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Botham's international début for [[England cricket team|England]] was on 26 August 1976 in a [[Limited Overs International]] (LOI) against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] at the [[North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough]]. The series was called the Prudential Trophy and the teams had 55 overs each per innings. Botham, still only 20, was the youngest player. At Scarborough, England captain [[Alan Knott]] lost the toss and Clive Lloyd, captaining the West Indies, elected to field first. Botham was number seven in the batting order and came in at 136 for five to join [[Graham Barlow]]. He scored only one before he was caught by [[Roy Fredericks]] off the bowling of his future ''[[Sky Sports]]'' colleague [[Michael Holding]]. England's innings closed at 202 for eight with Barlow 80 not out. West Indies lost Fredericks almost immediately but that brought Viv Richards to the crease and he hit 119 not out, winning the man of the match award, and leading West Indies to victory in only 41 overs by six wickets. Botham had the consolation of taking his first international wicket when he had [[Lawrence Rowe]] caught by [[Mike Hendrick]] for 10. He bowled only three overs and took some punishment from Richards, his return being one for 26.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36537.html |title=England v West Indies (1st LOI), 1976 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=6 May 2017 |archive-date=15 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315200152/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36537.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the second match at [[Lord's]], Botham was replaced by returning England captain Tony Greig. England lost by 36 runs as Richards, this time with 97, was again the difference between the teams. Having lost the series, England recalled Botham for the final match at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] on 30–31 August. The match was extended to two days and overs reduced to 32 per side. Tony Greig won the toss and decided to field. England began well and dismissed Fredericks and Richards, for a duck, in only the second over. West Indies were then seven for one but a powerful innings by Clive Lloyd pulled them out of trouble and they reached 223 for nine, innings closed. Botham bowled three very expensive overs, conceding 31 runs, but he did manage to bowl out Michael Holding for his second international wicket. England were never in the hunt and were bowled out for 173, West Indies winning by 50 runs and claiming the series 3–0. Botham again batted at number seven and made a good start, scoring 20 at a run a ball, but he was then caught by [[Bernard Julien]] off Fredericks and England were 151 for seven with only Knott and the tailenders left.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36556.html |title=England v West Indies (1st LOI), 1976 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=6 May 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023029/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/36/36556.html |url-status=live }}</ref>