On 5th August 2010, England cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham will join the list of illustrious guests invited to the Island by the Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club.
Sir Ian has enjoyed a long career which, apart from his sporting achievements, has included spells as a charity fundraiser and television commentator.
He started his career on the football and cricket fields simultaneously, with Scunthorpe United and Somerset County Cricket Club, before going on to become "the best all rounder that English cricket has ever seen".
Of his many outstanding achievements, the greatest performance was in Bombay in 1979/80 for England vs India when he hit 114 in his only innings and took 13 wickets in the match (6-58 and 7-48) - the first time that the all-round feat of a century and ten wickets in a match had ever been accomplished.
The tour by the Australian cricket team in England in 1981 included the 51st Ashes series of Test matches between Australia and England.
Despite having been 1–0 down after two Tests, England won the next three Tests to finish 3–1 victors (with two draws), thus retaining the Ashes. The series is popularly known as Botham's Ashes, due to his remarkable performances with both bat and ball. Botham was man of the series, scoring 399 runs and taking 34 wickets. He went on to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Sir Ian reached a career double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in his 21st Test match and his tally of 100 wickets was achieved in two years and nine days, setting another record.
The youngest cricketer to take 200 wickets in a Tests, he reached his second double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets after
42 Tests and was the first player to hit 5,000 runs and take 300 wickets in Tests. A back injury in 1988 threatened his career and, despite further injuries, his Test career continued until 1992.
The battle against leukaemia became a subject close to Ian's heart after a visit to a hospital to meet children suffering from the illness in Musgrave Park Hospital in Taunton.
Since then, Sir Ian has worked tirelessly to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund by walking the length and breadth of Britain and across the Alps. In October 1999, he completed his last walk (John O'Groats to Land's End), bringing the total he has raised to over ?4 million.
Since his retirement from competitive cricket, Sir Ian has continued his involvement in the game through the role of cricket commentator for Sky Sports, as well as developing his keen interest in golf on the Pro-Am Circuit.
He was awarded the OBE for his services to cricket and charity in 1992, followed by a knighthood in 2007, and in August 2009, was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
John Wannenburgh of the IOM Sporting & Dining Club said, "Each of our events is carefully selected with quality and variety in mind for our Membership, and in confirming Sir Ian Botham, the Club fulfils its aim in attracting the best available, so that our members can nurture their own professional relationships.
"I know that this will be a sensational evenings entertainment, once again made possible by the Club's principle sponsor, HSBC Bank".
Kevin Cartledge, Senior Manager of HSBC Isle of Man, comments, "In securing the services of Sir Ian Botham, the Club is not only bringing one of the UK's greatest sportsmen but also one of the best after dinner speakers around. HSBC is proud to support this event and we all look forward to another excellent evening".
The dinner will take place on Thursday 5th August 2010 at the Mount Murray Hotel & Country Club in Santon.
For ticket availability, please contact John Wannenburgh on (07624) 495749, or email john(at)sportinganddiningclub.com.
Please note: the evening with Lawrence Dallaglio (29th April 2010) is now sold out.
