Botham, Boycott, Trueman inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Leeds:

Four England greats - Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Fred Trueman and Wilfred Rhodes - were formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

Botham and Boycott, along with representatives of Fred Trueman and Wilfred Rhodes, were awarded commemorative caps as part of the joint venture between the ICC and Federation of International Cricketers' Associations at tea interval on the second day of the fourth Test between England and Australia on Saturday.

ICC President David Morgan presented caps to Boycott and Trueman's widow, Veronica, while England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Giles Clarke presented caps to Botham and Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chairman Colin Graves, who accepted the honour on behalf of Rhodes.

Botham played 102 Tests, captaining his country in 12 of them, and amassed 5,200 runs and claiming 383 wickets at an average of 28.40. He played 116 ODIs taking 145 wickets at an average of 28.54 and scoring 2,113 runs.

Boycott played 108 Tests for England, scoring 8,114 runs at an average of 47.72, while in first-class cricket he amassed 48,426 runs at an average of 56.83.

One of cricket's great technicians, he reached the summit of Test run-making during England's tour to India in 1981-82, passing the record that at that time was held by Garry Sobers. He captained England in four Tests on the 1977-78 tour to Pakistan and New Zealand.

Boycott's fellow Yorkshireman Fred Trueman was a prolific fast bowler who was the first player in history to take 300 Test wickets.

Trueman played 67 Tests, taking 307 wickets with a combination of fearsome pace and late swing. His longevity in the game was illustrated by the fact he played 603 first-class matches, taking 2,304 wickets in the process.

Another Yorkshireman Wilfred Rhodes played Test cricket into his fifties and is the only man to appear in over 1000 first-class matches.

As an all-rounder Rhodes was a solid right-handed batsman and skillful left-arm spinner and he holds the distinction of batting in all 11 positions in the order in Tests, although many of his innings were as an opener.

Rhodes finished his career in 1930 with 39,969 first-class runs and 4,204 wickets, while, in his 58 Tests, he amassed 127 wickets and 2,325 runs.

After receiving his cap Ian Botham said, "To be named amongst 55 of the most prolific players in cricketing history is a great honour for me.

"To have my cricketing career recognised in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame is not something I would have thought when I began playing cricket but to be receiving this award today is something I'm extremely grateful for."

Acknowledging the honour, Boycott said, "I would like to thank the ICC for awarding me this great honour and for also choosing Headingley as the venue.

"This ground holds so many wonderful memories for me and the Yorkshire public have always been my greatest supporters, so having this award on home soil in front of them makes it more special."