The much anticipated Anglo Australian clash of 1980s cricketers at Lord's ended in a draw but there were positives for both teams.
David Boon's 1st day 113 was a study in concentration and technique, helping Australia to a 1st innings total of 289.
England's response started patiently on day 2 through Boycott (94) and Gower (69), but on the 3rd morning 5 wickets crashed for 64. At lunch on day 3, England were 6 down and still 64 in arrears but then Botham played one of his great innings. The all rounder smashed 126 off 195 balls, hitting 13x4's and 4 huge sixes. England's last 2 wickets added 101 before being all out for 373, 84 ahead.
The next morning Botham removed Boon and Kim Hughes cheaply, but day 4 saw 3 hours lost to rain and in between the showers the Australians mounted a recovery (179-3 at close, 95 ahead). Despite a 5th day wearing pitch Australia progressed to 301-3, (Yallop 143no, Jones 101no) before Border declared setting England 218 to win off a minimum of 36 overs. Both openers departed with just 2 on the board.
Gower and Gatting then calmed English nerves and the Test petered out to a draw. Performances to admire on both teams, with Dean Jones showing scintillating form with the bat and Merv Hughes a constant menace. But Botham's hitting on day 3 was marvellous to behold, a MOM performance.
England 1980s: GA Gooch; G Boycott; DI Gower; MW Gatting [c]; AJ Lamb; IT Botham; RW Taylor [w]; JE Emburey; GR Dilley; PH Edmonds; RGD Willis
Australia 1980s: DC Boon; GN Yallop; KJ Hughes; AR Border [c]; DM Jones; GRJ Matthews; WB Phillips [w]; GF Lawson; MG Hughes; BA Reid; TM Alderman
Australia 1980s 1st Innings 289-10 (98.5 Ov)
DC Boon 113, AR Border 53, DM Jones 52, JE Emburey 3-54, RGD Willis 2-59
England 1980s 1st Innings 373-10 (145.3 Ov)
IT Botham 126, G Boycott 94, DI Gower 69, MG Hughes 4-83, GF Lawson 2-58, BA Reid 2-65
Australia 1980s 2nd Innings 301-3 (90 Ov)
GN Yallop 143*, DM Jones 101*, AR Border 45, IT Botham 2-80
England 1980s 2nd Innings 125-2 (36 Ov)
DI Gower 64*, MW Gatting 57*
Match Drawn
Man of the Match: IT Botham
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