There is a famous photograph of Sir Ian Botham, cigar in mouth, ready to light up after producing one of the most thrilling innings in Ashes history at Headingley in 1981. It is one of the few reflective shots of a man who always seemed to live life in the fast lane. When the Ashes were up for grabs, Botham was often in the middle dictating events rather than waiting for something to happen.

In Botham's Book Of The Ashes (Mainstream Publishing), the great man plays a central part in the story, save for the last 30 or 40 pages which concentrate on the barren period for England in the 90s, the greatest series of 2005, and the lowest of the lows in 2006. The former Somerset, Worcestershire and Durham all-rounder has some sympathy for his spiritual soul mate Andrew Flintoff: "Where our captaincy careers had a touch of similarity was that our own luck deserted us when we needed it most."

Headingley '81 may never have happened had Botham not been relieved of the captaincy. The period encapsulates the amateurish management of the day in that Beefy endured the captaincy on a match by match basis. The freedom of expression and enjoyment that the all-rounder subsequently showed on and off the pitch is something that has gone down in cricket magazines and newspaper front pages. There was and is something about the Ashes that can't be replicated in any other sporting contest.

As you would expect from a Botham life story, there are some drinking exploits of Herculean proportions. Dennis Lillee's wine stock was reduced considerably after a Beefy visitation, but when Both went out to face Bruce Reid and decided to play the middle ball of the three on view, it was a wise choice. The man always seemed to perform against Australian teams, whatever the odds.

He also chooses his own fantasy teams of Englishmen and Australians from the last 30 years or so in the key positions. David Gower features prominently throughout as a man who cared deeply about his performance despite appearances. "Lubo" also enjoyed a glass of wine and the odd unchartered flight in a Tiger Moth. The fact that the austere Graham Gooch is omitted from the opening position would suggest that Botham liked his cricketers not to spend their free time running back to the hotel after a day's play. "In recent years, players have become almost robotic in their attitude towards the game and life in many ways.."

If there is one thing that an Australian won't do, it is lie down. Unless of course he's imbibed as much as Botham could on any given night. The philosophy of play hard but enjoy each other's company with a tinnie has always been at the centre of Beefy's universe. His friend Allan Border changed the matey relationship between the two sides which ignited Australia's period of dedicated dominance. In his last Ashes contest, Botham noted: "There was very little of the usual chat between the sides on the pitch."

Sir Ian Botham is in as good a position as any to encapsulate what the Ashes is all about. He has something of the Australian in him and a willingness to take no nonsense from anyone - and that includes Ian Chappell. You want to read more? If the Ashes 2010 is as tasty as 10 per cent of his life experiences against the old enemy, then it will be memorable.

Tim Ellis