/ 7 December 2010

Legends Chappell, Botham clash at Test

Test greats Ian Botham and Ian Chappell had to be pulled apart after a confrontation in the car park at the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, reports said on Tuesday.

The two high-profile cricket figures have a feud lasting more than 30 years and squared up to each after the end of play on Monday’s fourth day, reports said.

Botham (55), the legendary England all-rounder of the 1980s, and former Australian skipper Chappell (67), now work as television commentators for rival organisations.

London’s Daily Mail newspaper said the pair had to be separated by television colleagues after they traded remarks.

A source, who observed the incident, told the newspaper: “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 pair have a deep mutual resentment going back to 1977 and an incident in Melbourne hotel, the paper said. — AFP