<p>Former England captain and talismanic match-winner Sir Ian Botham was saved from falling into crocodile-infested water after being rescued by Australia bowling veteran and Ashes rival Merv Hughes. The duo, friends since competing against each other during the 1980s, was on a four-day fishing trip in Australia’s Northern Territory.</p>

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<p>The England great Botham, 68, got his flip-flops stuck in a rope, falling into the crocodile-infested Moyle River and suffering bruises to his torso, with Bull sharks crowding the river, feeding on the scraps left behind by crocodiles.</p>

<p>“At the end of the day, Crocodile Beefy survived. I was out of the water quicker than I went in it. Quite a few sets of eyes were having a peep at me. Luckily, I had no time to think about what was in the water,” Botham said, as quoted by The Sun.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-to-not-travel-to-pakistan-for-champions-trophy-2025-bcci-pushes-for-neutral-venue-report-774646">India to not travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025; BCCI pushes for neutral venue - Report</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Botham and Hughes were crossing a passage of water to join other members waiting at the other end when this incident occurred. Botham, who is in Australia for business and charity events, said it’s just one of those accidents and that he is safe and doing fine now.</p>

<p>“The guys were brilliant. It was just one of those accidents. It was all very quick, and I’m OK now,” Botham continued.</p>

<h2><strong>Two greats of the game</strong></h2>

<p>Botham and Hughes were headline makers back in the day, with their famous face-off coming during England’s 1986-87 away tour when Botham hit Hughes for 22 runs in an over during his final Test ton at the Gabba in Brisbane; however, Hughes took his revenge two years later, bowling Botham in his return innings at Edgbaston, the Ashes Australia won 4-0.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, both will return to the commentary box for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025, starting with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former England captain and talismanic match-winner Sir Ian Botham was saved from falling into crocodile-infested water after being rescued by Australia bowling veteran and Ashes rival Merv Hughes.

Former England captain and talismanic match-winner Sir Ian Botham was saved from falling into crocodile-infested water after being rescued by Australia bowling veteran and Ashes rival Merv Hughes. The duo, friends since competing against each other during the 1980s, was on a four-day fishing trip in Australia’s Northern Territory. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IanBotham (@sirianbotham) × The England great Botham, 68, got his flip-flops stuck in a rope, falling into the crocodile-infested Moyle River and suffering bruises to his torso, with Bull sharks crowding the river, feeding on the scraps left behind by crocodiles. “At the end of the day, Crocodile Beefy survived. I was out of the water quicker than I went in it. Quite a few sets of eyes were having a peep at me. Luckily, I had no time to think about what was in the water,” Botham said, as quoted by The Sun. ALSO READ: India to not travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025; BCCI pushes for neutral venue - Report Meanwhile, Botham and Hughes were crossing a passage of water to join other members waiting at the other end when this incident occurred. Botham, who is in Australia for business and charity events, said it’s just one of those accidents and that he is safe and doing fine now. “The guys were brilliant. It was just one of those accidents. It was all very quick, and I’m OK now,” Botham continued. Two greats of the game Botham and Hughes were headline makers back in the day, with their famous face-off coming during England’s 1986-87 away tour when Botham hit Hughes for 22 runs in an over during his final Test ton at the Gabba in Brisbane; however, Hughes took his revenge two years later, bowling Botham in his return innings at Edgbaston, the Ashes Australia won 4-0. Meanwhile, both will return to the commentary box for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025, starting with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22. (With inputs from agencies)

Foes to friends: When Merv Hughes rescued Ian Botham from crocodile-infested water

<p>England cricket great Sir Ian Botham has sold off more than 200 souvenirs from his career at a London auction, with items from his celebrated role in a 1981 Ashes triumph among the most highly-valued lots.</p>

<p>The ball with which he took five Australia wickets for one run as England came from behind to win the fourth Test of that series at Edgbaston sold for £20,000 ($26,000, 23,000 euros).</p>

<p>And a stump marked "Headingley 81" from the previous match, taken as a souvenir by Botham after his astounding 149 not out helped England win after being made to follow-on, sold for £11,000.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-james-anderson-set-to-replace-ollie-robinson-in-xi-for-home-test-in-manchester-616271">Ashes 2023: James Anderson set to replace Ollie Robinson in XI for home Test in Manchester</a></p>

<p>His man-of-them match medal from Headingley -- Botham also took six wickets in Australia's first innings and then made exactly 50 -- went under the hammer at £19,000, more than double the pre-sale estimate.</p>

<p>And yet the most expensive item in the auction, held at The Oval ground, had no connection to cricket.</p>

<p>A Manchester United shirt worn by Sammy McIlroy in the 1977 Charity Shield against Liverpool in Wembley, later given to Botham by the Northern Ireland footballer, sold for £23,000 -- more than seven times its original estimate of £3,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Botham, 67, was one of the best all-rounders in cricket history during a 15-year Test career from 1977-92. He scored over 5,000 runs in 102 matches, including 14 hundreds, and, as a fast-medium bowler, took a then-England record 383 wickets. He also held 120 catches, many of them brilliant efforts in the slips. &nbsp;</p>

<p>He transformed the destiny of the England-Australia Test series in 1981. With his side 1-0 down &nbsp;after a defeat at Nottingham and a draw at Lord's, where he was out for nought in both innings, Botham resigned as England captain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then came his Headingley and Edgbaston heroics before Botham's 118 -- a whirlwind display featuring 13 fours and six sixes -- powered England to a series-clinching victory at Old Trafford. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A noted fundraiser for cancer charities, Botham became a well-known cricket broadcaster and newspaper columnist after his retirement.</p>

<p>In 2020, the already-knighted Botham was appointed to the House of Lords in the UK parliament by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson following his support for Britain leaving the European Union.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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England cricket great Sir Ian Botham has sold off more than 200 souvenirs from his career at a London auction, with items from his celebrated role in a 1981 Ashes triumph among the most highly-valued lots.

England cricket great Sir Ian Botham has sold off more than 200 souvenirs from his career at a London auction, with items from his celebrated role in a 1981 Ashes triumph among the most highly-valued lots. The ball with which he took five Australia wickets for one run as England came from behind to win the fourth Test of that series at Edgbaston sold for £20,000 ($26,000, 23,000 euros). And a stump marked "Headingley 81" from the previous match, taken as a souvenir by Botham after his astounding 149 not out helped England win after being made to follow-on, sold for £11,000. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: James Anderson set to replace Ollie Robinson in XI for home Test in Manchester His man-of-them match medal from Headingley -- Botham also took six wickets in Australia's first innings and then made exactly 50 -- went under the hammer at £19,000, more than double the pre-sale estimate. And yet the most expensive item in the auction, held at The Oval ground, had no connection to cricket. A Manchester United shirt worn by Sammy McIlroy in the 1977 Charity Shield against Liverpool in Wembley, later given to Botham by the Northern Ireland footballer, sold for £23,000 -- more than seven times its original estimate of £3,000. Botham, 67, was one of the best all-rounders in cricket history during a 15-year Test career from 1977-92. He scored over 5,000 runs in 102 matches, including 14 hundreds, and, as a fast-medium bowler, took a then-England record 383 wickets. He also held 120 catches, many of them brilliant efforts in the slips. He transformed the destiny of the England-Australia Test series in 1981. With his side 1-0 down after a defeat at Nottingham and a draw at Lord's, where he was out for nought in both innings, Botham resigned as England captain. Then came his Headingley and Edgbaston heroics before Botham's 118 -- a whirlwind display featuring 13 fours and six sixes -- powered England to a series-clinching victory at Old Trafford. A noted fundraiser for cancer charities, Botham became a well-known cricket broadcaster and newspaper columnist after his retirement. In 2020, the already-knighted Botham was appointed to the House of Lords in the UK parliament by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson following his support for Britain leaving the European Union. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham auctions off 1981 Ashes mementoes

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Foes to friends: When Merv Hughes rescued Ian Botham from crocodile-infested water

England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham auctions off 1981 Ashes mementoes