'Aggers, do stop it' - why TMS blooper has become such a listeners' favourite

JONATHAN Agnew is assured of his place in cricket folklore thanks to his memorable “leg over” blooper during a Test Match Special broadcast, which was voted the greatest ever sporting commentary moment in a 2005 BBC poll, writes Rich Evans.

- Rich Evans

Let's set the scene... West Indies arrived for the 1991 Wisden Trophy having not lost a Test series for 11 years.

The tourists led 2-1 going into the fifth and final Test at The Oval but it was Ian Botham's recall after a two-year absence that dominated the buildup.

"Ian had been out of the England team for a while and there was a big focus on him coming back," recalls Agnew.

"There was a lot of the old news-generated stuff of 'broken beds in Barbados' and drugs."

In 1986, model Lindy Field claimed she had such wild sex with Botham during England's tour of the Caribbean that they broke the bed.

Botham would continue to be dogged by brawls, bans, court cases and scandalous headlines.

Agnew says his co-commentator Brian Johnston was aware of all the news surrounding Botham ahead of the Test.

Botham was dismissed on the second day when he attempted to hook Curtly Ambrose, staggered backwards and dislodged the bails as he tried to hurdle the stumps.