Ian Botham: The Brexit-backing cricketing legend who could soon become ‘Lord Beefy’

Sean O'Grady looks at the one of the country’s greatest ever all-rounders – who could soon be swapping Lord’s for the Lords

The ex-cricketer enjoys a pint with Boris Johnson during a Vote Leave campaign visit to Chester-Le-Street in May 2016 (Getty)

Given the importance of sport in our lives it’s a little surprising that this particular area of human endeavour isn’t better represented in the House of Lords. There’s Lord (Sebastian) Coe, who used to run a bit, though he was also a politician, and Baroness (Tanni) Grey-Thompson, former wheelchair racer. And rumour has it that if Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell had had their way Sir Alex would have been converted into Lord Ferguson of Hairdryer, but the Manchester United legend thought better of it. That’s it really: but things may be about to change with the elevation of Sir Ian Terence Botham to the peerage.

It has been widely reported, if not leaked, and has the ring of truth to it; that indispensable guarantee of truth only journalists can divine. Apparently, in news speak, it’s for “services to Brexit loyalty”, which is certainly true. Sir Ian can’t comment on it, as protocol dictates, but it seems preordained, another honour heaped upon a national hero. When he swaps the cricket whites or, more likely these days, the charity walking boots, for a touch of ermine, as Baron Beefy it will be a bit of a moment. At a mere 64, he’ll be a bit of a nipper in the upper house, and we can look forward to many years of him contributing on the great issues of the day.

He’ll probably be a rather unconventional member, in more ways than one. One hopes, for example, that he doesn’t repeat the prank he played on his last day as a competitive cricketer, back in 1993. As Botham tells it: “I was playing for Durham, against the Aussies, and David Boon faced my last-ever ball. Booney was struggling for his Test pace and was deadly serious. But he just about fell over laughing and shouted ‘Beefy, you can’t do this to me.’ I was midway through my run-up and he’d spotted that I’d unzipped my fly and hauled out the meat and two veg. The old man was dangling in the wind as I steamed in. If I’d got it on target I would’ve bowled him. I thought it was a nice way to go out.”