Botham leads England to Ashes

1981 Ashes Series England v Australia Fifth Test, Old Trafford 13-17 August 1981 LIVE on Grandstand

The 1981 Ashes series which England won 3-1 went down in legend as one of English cricket's finest hours.

A victory over the Australians was not as unexpected as one now might be, England having won the two previous encounters in 1977 and 1978-9.

Nevertheless, Australia had won a three-match series a year earlier, and although the Ashes was not at stake, they felt they were moral holders of the Urn.

And the return of players from Kerry Packer's ill-fated World Series Cricket tour added extra spice, with Dennis Lillee playing his first Ashes series since 1975.

Australia struck the first blow, winning a tight first Test by four wickets at Trent Bridge.

The second Test at Lords was drawn, but after making a pair of ducks Ian Botham resigned as England skipper, with Mike Brearley replacing him for the third Test at Headingly.

Botham's performance in Leeds is now legend, the all-rounder hitting 149 not out to inspire England to a series-squaring victory after they had been languishing at 135-7 in the follow-on.

5th TEST SCOREBOARD England bt Australia by 103 runs First innings: Eng 231 (CJ Tavare 69, DK Lillee 4-55, T Alderman 4-88) Aus 130 (MF Kent 52, RGD Willis 4-63) Second innings: Eng 404 (IT Botham 118, TM Alderman 5-109) Aus 402 (AR Border 123, GN Yallop 114, RGD Willis 3-96) Umpires: DJ Constant, KE Palmer

But it was not the last time England fans would marvel at Botham's prowess with bat and ball that summer.

He sparkled at Edgbaston in the fourth Test: With the Australians needing 46 to win with five wickets in hand, Botham strolled on to take all five and win the game.

Thus the scene was set for the fifth Test at Old Trafford, and the chance for the hosts to secure an unlikely Ashes win.

Inevitably, Botham took the plaudits once again, scoring 100 off 86 balls live on Saturday Grandstand as England set the visitors an imposing target of 506.

There was to be no rout however, with future captain Allan Border firing an unbeaten 123 and Graham Yallop 114.

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But Australia's tail failed to match Border's resolve - with Terry Alderman and Mike Whitney walking for ducks as England won by 103 runs.

Border's score would have been impressive enough were it not for the fact he had batted for a day with a broken finger.

There was still one Test to go - an encounter which ended in a draw at The Oval - but the series had already been won by England.

For Botham, it was a series that guaranteed his cult status in cricketing lore.

As for Border, he left nursing a sore finger and dented pride - but his revenge would come a year later in the next Ashes series Down Under.

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