Jackie Botten

{{short description|South African cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

{{Use South African English|date=February 2019}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Jackie Botten

| image = Jackie_Botten.jpg

| caption =

| fullname = James Thomas Botten

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|6|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|5|14|1938|6|21|df=yes}}

| death_place = Lyttelton, Gauteng, South Africa

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast-medium

| club1 = North Eastern Transvaal

| year1 = {{nowrap|1957/58–1971/72}}

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 3

| runs1 = 65

| bat avg1 = 10.83

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 33

| deliveries1 = 828

| wickets1 = 8

| bowl avg1 = 42.12

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 2/56

| catches/stumpings1= 1/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 98

| runs2 = 1,775

| bat avg2 = 15.84

| 100s/50s2 = 0/4

| top score2 = 90

| deliveries2 = 19,359

| wickets2 = 399

| bowl avg2 = 20.36

| fivefor2 = 24

| tenfor2 = 5

| best bowling2 = 9/23

| catches/stumpings2= 52/–

| international = true

| country = South Africa

| testdebutagainst = England

| testdebutdate = 22 July

| testdebutyear = 1965

| lasttestdate = 26 August

| lasttestagainst = England

| lasttestyear = 1965

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/44109.html Cricinfo

| date = 25 October

| year = 2020

}}

James Thomas "Jackie" Botten (21 June 1938 – 14 May 2006)[http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/292054.html Wisden Obituaries, 2007: A-E] was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1965.{{cite web | url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/1/1272/1272.html| title = Jackie Botten |publisher = www.cricketarchive.com | accessdate = 26 April 2012}}

Botten was an opening bowler and useful lower-order batsman who played domestic first-class cricket for North Eastern Transvaal from 1957 to 1972. In 1958–59, he was the outstanding bowler in the South African season, with 63 wickets at an average of 10.53.{{cite web |title=First-class Bowling in South Africa for 1958/59 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/Seasonal_Averages/RSA/1958-59_f_Bowling_by_Average.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=25 October 2020}} In the match against Griqualand West he took 15 for 49, including a career-best 9 for 23 in the first innings.{{cite web |title=Jackie Botten |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/44109.html |website=Cricinfo |accessdate=25 October 2020}} Nevertheless, North Eastern Transvaal finished last in the B Section of the Currie Cup.Wisden 1960, p. 880. In 1963–64, he bowled unchanged through the second innings of the match against Rhodesia to take 9 for 29 off 18.4 overs and dismiss Rhodesia for 47; North Eastern Transvaal still lost, by 18 runs.{{cite web |title=North Eastern Transvaal v Rhodesia 1963-64 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/26/26544.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=25 October 2020}}

Botten toured England in 1961 with the South African Fezela XI of promising young players. He was selected for South Africa's tour of England in 1965 and played in all three Tests. He opened the bowling with Peter Pollock and took eight wickets in a series that South Africa won one-nil. His highest first-class score came in the match against Leicestershire, when batting at number 10 he made 90, putting on 181 runs in 133 minutes with Ali Bacher, a ninth-wicket record for a touring South African team.Wisden 1966, p. 309.

He was later a cricket administrator, playing a leading role in the transformation of North Eastern Transvaal into the stronger Northern Transvaal side. He also wrote cricket columns for local papers.

He was also a prominent soccer player for the Arcadia Shepherds in Pretoria. He attended Pretoria Boys High School.