The Richards–Botham Trophy is a trophy awarded to the winner of Test cricket series played between England and the West Indies. It is named after the former international players Viv Richards and Ian Botham, who played as rivals in West Indies–England fixtures, but were also team-mates at Somerset and good friends. The trophy replaced the Wisden Trophy, which was retired following the 2020 series between the two teams. Prior to the series, it was suggested by Andy Bull in the Guardian that a new trophy should be inaugurated in honour of West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine. Writing in the Times a week later, Mike Atherton proposed naming it the Richards–Botham Trophy instead.
In March 2021, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the fixtures of the first edition, to be played the following year. Winning West Indies captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, was presented with the inaugural trophy by Ricky Skerritt and Dwain Gill (CWI president) at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium on 27 March 2022. Richards and Botham had revealed the trophy design at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on 7 Match, to coincide with Richards' 70th birthday.
Background
Years Host Tests Drawn Series winner Trophy 1928 N/A 1929–30 Drawn 1933 1934–35 1939 1947–48 1950 1953–54 Drawn 1957 1959–60 1963 Wisden Trophy 1966 1967–68 1969 1973 1973–74 Drawn 1976 1980 1980–81 1984 1985–86 1988 1989–90 1991 Drawn 1993–94 1995 Drawn 1997–98 2000 2003–04 2004 2007 2008–09 2009 2012 2014–15 Drawn 2017 2018–19 2020
Series results
Years Host Tests Drawn Result Holder Player of the series 2021–22 Kraigg Brathwaite 2024 Gus AtkinsonTotal
Total Series Drawn 2 1 1 0
See also Benaud–Qadir Trophy
References