Published: Feb 27, 2017, 05:12 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2017, 05:12 PM (IST)
Former England all-rounder Ian Botham, who was appointed the Chairman of Durham County Cricket Club on November last year, is expected to start his first official day from today. Botham is expected to state his visions for the Club in April when the County Championship starts, and he is officially confirmed as Chairman. He is also expected to state the reasons of his involvement with the club, along with an outline of what he hopes to achieve with Durham in cricket.
On his appointment as the club’s new chairman, Botham expresses his feelings on his appointment. As reported by itvnews, he said, “I am very privileged to be invited to accept the role of Chairman at Durham County Cricket Club, but it is important that we all recognise the size of the task ahead. He added, “I was fortunate enough to play for the club during its first professional season and have always taken a keen interest in the club’s fortunes and many successes.”
Botham, who has been voted as ‘the greatest England cricketer of the 20th century’, has played 218 matches at international level. However, it was his debut in Durham’s maiden first-class side in 1992, where he scored a remarkable century but went on to end his distinguished career a year later, after playing against a touring Australia.
Earlier, on November 3, 2016, when Durham Cricket Country Club first announced the appointment of Botham, he spoke on the bright future that the club holds for England cricket. “As someone who lives locally it is an honour to have the opportunity to contribute to the club’s future, to look forward and to continue to produce the talent that will serve both the county and England well in the years ahead. We will work closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board and Durham County Council in the months ahead as we develop a plan to ensure continued success for this great club,” he had said.
The decision of appointing Botham had just come weeks after Durham was relegated from the First Division of the County Championship, as punishment for running up debts of £7.5m, last year. The leader of Durham Country Council, Councillor Simon Henig welcomed Botham and said that it is a positive step towards a brighter future to have an international cricketing icon take up a major role. “With its importance to the local community, County Durham and the region as a whole, it is vital that we now move forward, working closely together with the cricket club, the new board and the ECB to get Durham County Cricket Club back where it belongs,” Henig was stated by itvnews on November 4, 2016.
