Ian Salisbury, the former England leg spinner and currently Surrey’s 2nd team coach, revealed that he had been ‘volunteered’ to replace his boss Chris Adams as guest speaker for the Buccaneers Annual Dinner at the East India Club last Thursday. Having presented the Geoffrey Moore Trophy to Rob Rydon for his outstanding contribution to the club in 2010, Ian recalled fondly how his boyhood hero, one I.T. Botham, took him under his wing against Pakistan at Lord’s in June 1992 during his debut as the first England leg spinner for 21 years.
“Having survived the previous evening with Beefy, Ian was rewarded when the Great All Rounder caught Javed Miandad at slip from a jaffa of a leg break that grazed the glove of Pakistan’s star batsman. Ian also told of how he made up for the unusual mishap of hitting his own wicket against Mustaq Ahmed in the 1st innings with a plucky knock as nightwatchman before being trapped lbw by match-winner Wasim Akram in the 2nd innings. After Pakistan had snatched a tense 2-wicket victory, Ian was deputed to drive the injured Botham down to Horsham and, as it happened, away from Test cricket for the last time.”