The IPL is too powerful for the long-term good of the game and compounds corruption, Sir Ian Botham said in his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s last night. “It provides the perfect opportunity for betting and fixing,” he said. “Administrators bow to it and players are slaves to it. I fear the IPL should not be there. If necessary, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit should expose the big names.”
Botham also strongly criticised “the overkill” of Twenty20. “A three-week burst has worked in England and let us not crowd our calendar,” he added. “The County Championship needs space and we do not need franchises.”
The prime minister came under fire for not responding to Botham after his visit to Downing Street. “David Cameron, you made all the right noises and promised to come back to me with your ideas,” he said. “I am still waiting.”
The former England all-rounder passionately believes that more sport should be played in schools. “Why is the government not focusing on this?” he asked. “If I could change anything, it would be to downgrade the importance attached to exams and upgrade sport — it sets you free.”
Botham heaped praise on James Anderson, whom he said would “waltz” past his England record of 383 Test wickets. “I love watching him bowl,” he said. “I think he will go on to take 500 wickets.”