Not literally. That would be hideous. That would be really, really, world-class, title-taking hideous.
No. This is the view of Ian Botham expressed in Duncan Fletcher’s book:
“‘Get rid of all the guys like Atherton, Caddick and Tufnell,’ he [Botham] told me.
‘Why?’ I asked.
‘Because they’re too old, rather go with youth,’ he replied.
‘Who then?’ I asked.
‘Graeme Hick and Robin Smith.’
‘But hold on they are the same age,’ I replied in exasperation.
‘But they are different,’ he said.”
We love this exchange. This is classic Botham. He’s not a man blessed with clarity of thought. Great cricketer, sterling charity-worker, excremental commentator.
Ian Botham normally waits a while before contradicting himself at least.