Somerset Stars at Braunton CC

Cricket stars turn out for centenary at the Kelsey Ground Braunton CC

In 1980 Braunton Cricket Club in North Devon celebrated its centenary year as one of the earliest cricket clubs established in the county and Somerset cricketers put on a fun performance. Ian 'Beefy' Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner grace the Kelsey Ground and are received by a large crowd.

Ian Botham is one of the best all-rounders of all time and perhaps the first celebrity sportsman generating many headlines, good and bad, for the tabloid press. As a spectator, he was exciting to watch. In 1981 he won Sports’ Personality of the Year. His friend and fellow Somerset player Viv Richards was named in 2000 as one of the five Wisden cricketers of the century in the poll of 100 international cricket experts appointed by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Viv Richards called his autobiography Hitting Across The Line because it is considered taboo by English batting experts who believe it shows a batsman’s lack of technique. For Viv it was part of his batting style.