Ian Botham’s quick-witted reply to Rod Marsh’s comment

Sledging in cricket can often get very personal and vicious. But sometimes, the victim keeps his cool and pays back his tormentor with an intelligent riposte as was the case in an Ashes encounter between Rod Marsh and Ian Botham.

Sledging in cricket can often get very personal and vicious. But sometimes, the victim keeps his cool and pays back his tormentor with an intelligent riposte as was the case in an Ashes encounter between Rod Marsh and Ian Botham.

Rod Marsh: “So how’s your wife and my kids?”
Ian Botham: “Wife’s fine; kids are retarded!”

That was a quick and intelligent answer which shut up the Australian keeper.

Years later, Marsh was Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) national academy from October 2001 to September 2005.