NANCY DOYLE MBE CRICKET MEMORABILA
Tuesday, 20 October - Tuesday, 3 November 2026
England v Australia 1981 - Australia v England 1981 - a fully autographed Duncan Fearnley full size bat signed in ink by many legendary players,
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Including: Ian Botham, Geoff Boycott, Kim Hughes, Allan Border, John Dyson, Geoff Lawson, Mike Gatting, Bob Taylor, Graham Dilley, John Emburey. This series is arguably the most famous Test series in English cricket history, forever known as ‘Botham's Ashes.’ Ian Botham began the series as England captain, only to be stripped of the position after Australia went 1-0 up with two Tests played. He was replaced by legendary former captain Mike Brearley. The third test at Headingley became known as the 'Miracle of Headlingley' for the sublime performances of Ian Botham and Bob Willis. Botham shone in the first innings with bat and ball but with a dominant Australian all round performance England were against the ropes and were required to follow on in the second innings. Australian bookmakers famously offered odds of 500 to 1 for an England win at this stage. By the fourth afternoon, with England having lost their seventh wicket for just 135, the match seemed hurtling toward a 2-0 series deficit for England. But Botham, batting with the tail, produced an innings for the ages - an unbeaten 149 from 148 balls, hitting 27 fours and a six. Botham shared crucial partnerships of 117 with Graham Dilley for the eighth wicket, 67 with Chris Old for the ninth, and 37 with Bob Willis for the tenth, lifting England to 356 all out and setting Australia just 130 to win. Australia looked to be cruising at 56 for 1 when Bob Willis, wicketless in the first innings, produced an inspired spell of fast, straight bowling down the slope, after a brief conversation with captain Brearley. Willis took 8 for 43 to bowl Australia out for just 111, and England won by 18 runs. England became only the second team in Test history to win a match after being forced to follow on. The drama was so gripping that trading at the London stock exchange was reportedly halted so people could watch the match unfold.
