Legendary English cricketer Sir Ian Botham recently made headlines following a close encounter with crocodiles while visiting Australia’s Northern Territory with former Ashes rival Merv Hughes. The harrowing incident occurred when Botham accidentally fell into crocodile-infested waters, creating a life-threatening situation.
He reportedly slipped after his sandals got tangled on a rope as he was boarding a boat. Fortunately, Hughes acted quickly and pulled Botham back to safety. Although he was saved, Botham suffered severe bruising along his torso as a result of the fall.
Botham Reflects on the Incident
After the incident, Botham addressed his fans, assuring them he was unharmed. He joked about how he emerged from the water faster than he had fallen in, acknowledging that accidents like this can happen. “I was out of the water quicker than I went in it,” he said, adding that he didn’t have time to fully process the danger he was in, despite noticing multiple “sets of eyes” on him from the water. Botham expressed gratitude for the quick actions of those around him and emphasized that the entire episode was over in moments.
Rekindling the Botham-Hughes Rivalry
Reports indicated that bull sharks were also in close proximity to their boat, adding to the danger of the situation. Botham and Hughes, who were fierce rivals on the cricket field, will soon reunite as commentators for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Their rivalry dates back to the 1980s when Botham famously hit Hughes for 22 runs in a single over during an Ashes Test, setting a record at the time. Hughes later recounted the moment in the book The Match of My Life: The Ashes, expressing his frustration over being on the receiving end of such a record-breaking over. He humorously admitted that he had hoped someone else would surpass the record, but found comfort only in the knowledge that 24 runs had once been scored off an eight-ball over.
Despite the incident, Botham and Hughes remain popular figures in cricket, and their camaraderie after years of rivalry continues to endear them to fans. This close call in Australia has added yet another chapter to their storied friendship, now intertwined with a narrow escape from crocodile-filled waters.
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