LEFT: Ian Botham waves to supporters as he walks from the pitch at the Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street before the second day of England's fourth Test against the West Indies. Botham joined a select band of England cricketers to receive a knighthood after being recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours list for his charity work. - AP
RIGHT: Bravo - File

CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AP):

WEST INDIES allrounder Dwayne Bravo had a chat with England's newest knight of the realm yesterday about cricket and then went out and rescued his team from batting catastrophe.

Sir Ian Botham, newly knighted yesterday in the Queen's Birthday honours list, sat down for a 25-minute chat with Bravo as players waited for thepitch to dry out and play to begin in the fourth and final Test.

"I'm looking forward to following in his footsteps," said the 23-year-old Trinidadian, who hails from the same village - Santa Cruz - as cricket great Brian Lara.

Botham's advice

Bravo said he took some of Botham's advice and applied it when he went in to bat yesterday, with the West Indies on 55 for four on a pitch where the ball was swinging wildly.

The West Indies finished the day on 132 for four and Bravo was 43 not out.

"I saw him at the Manchester Test and asked him if we could chat, but we didn't have a chance until today," said Bravo, who also cites Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis as his heroes. "We talked about the allrounders' job and how he balanced batting and bowling and the workloads, and if he saw anything in my game where he could assist me.

"He said I shouldn't let the situation of the game take away my natural style of playing, be positive at all times and enjoy my batting most of all."

Botham, a television pundit, was warmly welcomed at the Chester-le-Street ground where he played his final county cricket for Durham as he walked on to the pitch after news of his knighthood. Former fast bowler Alan Donald, now England's bowling coach, knelt jokingly in tribute to him.

Bravo said he had used his experience as an English county cricketer for Kent last year when batting yesterday in bowler-friendly conditions.

Different conditions

"The experience helped me a lot," he said. "That's maybe why our top order was struggling and maybe that's why I've been successful on this tour, because I've had the chance to play county cricket and see the different conditions."

Bravo said he was unconcerned about taking 20 balls to get off the mark because he knew patience is critical in England, waiting for bad balls rather than forcing the pace.

"My goal was to ensure I did the basics, play the ball right under my eyes. I said to myself today's the opportunity to get a big score and to get a bigpartnership going with Shiv (Chanderpaul)."

On the England tour, which has been a disaster for the West Indies, Bravo is averaging just under 50, with 247 runs in five innings. His bowling has been less successful, taking six wickets for 402 runs in 105 overs against a rampant England batting attack.