FROM THE ARCHIVE: Headingley ‘81

Ahead of the third Test at Headingley, The Cricketer recalls the match that turned Ian Botham into a British sporting icon and the 1981 Ashes on its head

In the summer of ’81, Ian Botham and England turned the Ashes series on its head by winning at Headingley – despite being forced to follow-on earlier in the Test. 

After their unlikely success, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, editor of the The Cricketer, penned this review for the September 1981 issue of the magazine – and included an exclusive on Bob Willis’ fitness.

Ian Botham, magically transformed in his first match away from a captaincy which had weighed more heavily than Frodo’s ring, stole the Third Test from Australia in two hours of thunderous driving.

Coming in at 105 for 5, with England still 122 behind, his brilliance, bravado and, in Kim Hughes’ words, his “brute strength”, gave England’s bowlers 129 runs to play with. 

At 56 for 1 their cause seemed hopeless, but Bob Willis took eight of the last nine wickets, Mike Gatting and Graham Dilley held crucial catches, and the daylight robbery was completed amidst national rejoicing.

^{Ian Botham inspired England's remarkable recovery}

Only once before had a Test been won by a side following on; England again at Sydney in 1894 when Australia’s captain George Giffen had an even more remarkable match than Botham this time, bowling 118 six-ball overs for a return of 8 for 239 and making 161 and 41. 

But the speed with which the match at Headingley was turned upside down made it unique; something one expects to witness only once in a lifetime. 

In the end, Mike Brearley’s return as captain was triumphant. He gave Botham a much longer first innings spell than the former captain would have given himself and, in the tense final stages, he kept the right balance between attack and defence. 

His opposite number, Kim Hughes, was admirably gracious and generous in defeat. For three and a half days his team had outplayed England and the Ashes were as good as regained. 

Defeat must have seemed like a sudden, unexpected bereavement. For England, it was the first win in 13 Tests, ending a spell equal to the most barren in their history.

It was the first time Peter Willey had finished on the winning side in 19 Tests, the first in 12 for Graham Dilley.

At tea-time on the Saturday, Ladbrokes offered odds of 500/1 against an England victory. 

^{Bob Willis' eight-for completed the victory}

Exclusive: Willis not picked in original squad

Bob Willis very nearly missed the Test which his inspired spell of bowling brought to a conclusion totally undreamed of 24 hours before.

Having suffered from a virus at Lord’s he was no picked among the 12 players chosen by the selectors on Friday July 20.

Willis had been ruled unfit to play in Warwickshire’s match the following day, but the selectors checked with Willis himself on Saturday and trusted his verdict that he was fit.

He then proved his fitness by playing on Sunday and by having a lengthy net on Monday. Without Willis’ fire and accuracy on the final day, England could not have achieved their great escape.

The article originally featured in the September 1981 issue of the magazine.