English cricket legend Sir Ian Botham described Wagga Wagga as the ”real Australia” during his visit to the city last week. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
English cricket legend and former captain Sir Ian Botham made a surprise trip to Wagga Wagga last week and brought his golf clubs with him to raise money for children’s cancer research.
Hitting the fairways at the Wagga Wagga Country Club, Sir Ian participated in an 18-hole charity event known across Australia as Jarrod Lyle Golf Day.
Jarrod Lyle was a former professional Australian golfer who tragically died at the age of 36 after battling leukemia for 19 years. The charity day raises funds to support children and families living with cancer, a cause close to Sir Ian’s heart.
“I’ve come to Wagga primarily for Jarrod,” he said.
“I want to do my bit to raise money for him. I’ll play golf anywhere; it’s a big part of my life that I love. I’m also a country boy at heart. I live in a countryside farm back in England and I’d rather be there than in the city.
“I enjoy travelling to rural areas and doing country stuff because at my heart, I’m a country boy.”
Sir Ian has a detailed history of travelling to Australia and enjoying its regional centres, such as Albury.
The former captain-turned-commentator said the rural areas were far more inviting and better represented Australian values.
“For me, places like Wagga Wagga are the real Australia,” he said.
“Just here in town, you’re so lucky to have this brilliant lake where we are playing golf, as well as a river just up the road and beautiful farmland not too far away. The people are always great and far different to the folks in the city.”
Despite his history of leading Australia’s fiercest rivals, Sir Ian said he hadn’t experienced much banter from the locals.
“I haven’t got any stick at all,” he said.
“My record against Australia isn’t bad at all, so there isn’t too much they can have a go at me about. In saying that, everyone has been really interested in talking to me and hearing what I have to say.”
The 1981 Ashes hero will return to Australia in October to cover the series between Australia and England, a match-up he believes will see England finally take home the little urn.
“It’ll be a great series. I think England have enough armory now to come back and fight here, and I think they’ve got the quality pace bowlers, and they’re quick,” he said.
“They’re young, they’re fit and strong, so that could be a critical factor in this series and I believe they can win.”
The Ashes begins in Perth on 21 November.
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