Fierce foes for 33 years, it seems former Ashes captains Ian Chappell and Sir Ian Botham have been at it again.
Chappell and Botham reportedly had to be separated after an altercation in the Adelaide Oval car park on the fourth evening of the second Test between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval.
“Botham, who hasn’t spoken to former Australia captain Chappell since 1980 despite them working in close proximity in cricket ground television booths around the globe, was waiting for his Sky transport to collect him outside the Adelaide Oval,” read a report in England’s Daily Mail newspaper.
“Chappell muttered something highly provocative as he went past. A surprised Botham turned around to retort: ‘What did you say?’ And after Chappell made another incendiary remark, both of them dropped their bags and were at each others’ throats before being quickly separated.”
An observer of the incident said it was fortunate there had been others close by.
“They went for each other all right and it could have got very nasty if there hadn’t been people on hand to keep them apart,” the observer said.
“They reacted quickly because we all know the history between these two.
“They might be aged 55 and 67, but neither of them are the type of people to give an inch in the face of conflict.”
The pair share a mutual disrespect that has lasted since 1977 and a hotly disputed encounter between them at a Melbourne bar during the Centenary Test.
Neither man denies a stoush took place between Chappell, then the recently retired former Australian captain, and an uncapped 21-year-old Botham, but their versions of events differ dramatically.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Mitch Marsh has been appointed as Australia's men's Twenty20 captain, set to lead a squad to the World Cup that does not include Steve…
Australia are set to turn their back on rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind IPL form and drop Steve Smith in their T20 World Cup…
If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
Australian fast bowling great Jason Gillespie has been named head coach of Pakistan's Test team, as the nation overhauls its coaching department ahead of…
Will Jacks got RCB past the 200 target set by Gujarat with four overs to spare.
With Rajasthan needing 25 off 17, both batsmen ended up at the same end but the bowler dropped the throw from his teammate -…
