Chappell calls Botham the master of fairy tales

The only thing that seems common between MiD DAY columnist Ian Chappell and Ian Botham is their first name.

It was reported in Daily Mail yesterday that the two Ians fought at the end of the fourth day's play of the Ashes Test in Adelaide on Monday. Chappell is part of the Channel Nine commentary team while Botham represents Sky.

Chappell and Botham reportedly had to be separated after an altercation at the Adelaide Oval car park. The Test ended in victory for Botham's England yesterday.

However, Chappell told 3AW Radio that whatever reported is not quite true. "I have become aware of the publicity that's come out of England. I have only just found out who wrote the story in the Daily Mail in England ufffd a fellow called Charlie Sale.

Rubbish
"All I would say is you have two masters of fairy tales. Botham is a master of fairly tales. He and the truth rarely meet and Charlie Sale writes rubbish so that combination is not a good one," said Chappell.

The newspaper reported: "Chappell muttered something highly provocative as he went past. A surprised Botham turned around to retort: 'What did you say?' And after Chappell made another incendiary remark, both of them dropped their bags and were at each others' throats before being quickly separated. An observer of the incident said it was fortunate there had been others close by. 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."

"There was some words spoken in the car park,' admitted Chappell on air.

"I am being painted as the instigator. I accept 50 per cent of the blame but I was certainly not the instigator and as far as the rest of the rubbish is concerned about us having each other by the throat and having to be pulled apart, that is one of those fairy tales I was talking about."

The radio host, in a lighter vein, asked Chappell if he had done Botham in with a right and left combination to which the chuckling former Australia captain said that he was just about to enter a Chinese restaurant and the only combination he would try out would be done at the dinner table.

Big clash
Chappell and Botham are not cordial to each other ever since they clashed in a bar at the Melbourne Cricket Club in the 1976-77 season. Chappell had retired from international cricket the previous season and was playing club cricket for North Melbourne, the very season he quit South Australia.

Botham was in Australia on a scholarship and was representing University Club. He made his debut for England in the following year's home Ashes series. Chappell came out of retirement after the Packer circus and played against Botham in the 1979-80 series. Australia beat England 3-0, but the Ashes were not at stake for this contest.

Ironically both adversaries are great friends with spin wizard Shane Warne.

Come to think of it, they do have something inu00a0 common.