England legend Ian Botham sells his 1981 Ashes memorabilia for hefty price

Ian Botham, the iconic cricket legend, recently made headlines by selling his most cherished memorabilia from his illustrious career for an impressive total of over £225,000. The sale, held in the revered Long Room at the KIA Oval, Surrey's hallowed home ground, featured more than 240 items that encapsulated Botham's remarkable journey in the sport.

Of particular interest were the artefacts linked to "Botham's Ashes," a series in 1981, where his exceptional performance fueled England's extraordinary comeback. With the current Ashes series against Australia hanging in the balance at 2-1, Ben Stokes and his team will look to take inspiration from Botham's heroics in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series.

The purest format of the game which witnessed Botham's mesmerizing feat of taking five wickets for only one run in the subsequent Edgbaston Test was the highest-selling item, fetching a staggering £20,000. Equally noteworthy was the stump he forcefully uprooted after the miraculous Headingley win, which commanded a price of £11,000. Additionally, his well-deserved 'Man of the Match' medal for that game was sold for £19,000.

The 1981 Ashes series held a special place in Botham's career trajectory. Having relinquished the captaincy and with England trailing 1-0 after two matches, the team found themselves facing Australia at Headingley, Leeds, for the third test. Forced to follow on, England seemed destined for a crushing defeat, however, Botham showed his extraordinary resilience, and scored a magnificent unbeaten 149 runs, setting a modest target of 130 for the visitors. Bob Willis then rose to the occasion, claiming eight wickets and propelling England to one of their most memorable triumphs.

Botham also sold gifted 'Baggy Green' cap of Australian legend Allan Border

Other notable items sold included the stump from the Edgbaston win, immortalized in photographs as Ian Botham sprinted from the field to evade a pitch invasion, which went for £7,000. Botham's player of the season medal secured £8,000, while his England Test blazer, Somerset cap, and an Australia "baggy green" cap gifted by former Australian captain Allan Border fetched £1,800, £2,700, and £13,000, respectively.

The classic England blue one-day top he wore during the 1992 World Cup, where England narrowly lost in the final to Pakistan, achieved a respectable £11,000. Moreover, his BBC SPOTY Lifetime award, bestowed upon him in 2004, garnered £3,600.

At 67 years old, affectionately nicknamed "Beefy," Botham decided to part with his cherished possessions as part of downsizing and moving forward in his life. Knight's Auctioneers in Norwich, Norfolk, conducted the sale, and auctioneer Tim Knight emphasized the allure of Botham's name, particularly with regard to the items associated with the 1981 Ashes, often referred to as "Botham's Ashes."