New documentary featuring Ian Chappell and Sir Ian Botham discussing their enduring rivalry

Ian Chappell and Sir Ian Botham are set to face off in a documentary explaining their fierce rivalry and what really happened in their hotel dust-up more than 40 years ago.

Australian cricket great Ian Chappell. Picture: Hollie Adams

They have famously squared off in a hotel bar, on the field and even in a car park, but England legend Sir Ian Botham and former Australia Test Captain Ian Chappell are set to bury the hatchet — or are they?

The bitter foes have come face-to-face in a new documentary to discuss their enduring rivalry which has spanned almost five decades.

The origins of the longstanding feud are in a bar of the then-Hilton Hotel near the MCG during the Centenary Test in 1977.

Both have their own versions of what caused the dust-up — Botham was riled by Chappell’s blunt assessment of English cricket while Chappell said Botham threatened him with a broken glass.

Sir Ian Botham has been a staunch rival of Ian Chappell. Picture: Monique Harmer

The result was Botham flattening the Australian, who fell into a group of footballers before fleeing the bar with the English all-rounder in pursuit.

Despite crossing paths since as opponents and commentary colleagues, the pair have never reconciled, even exchanging heated words at the Adelaide Oval car park in 2010 before being separated by their Channel 9 and Sky colleagues.

It seemed all hope was lost until the pair were spied recently with a TV crew at the Golden Gate Hotel in South Melbourne.

It’s believed the rivalry will be covered by prolific sports documentary makers Jam TV and the production aired in Australia mid year to coincide with the Ashes in England.

In his latest autobiography, Head On, Botham, who was 22 at the time of the bar clash and on a scholarship playing club cricket in Melbourne, says he gave Chappell “three official warnings”, which the Australian ignored. So “I just flattened him. He went flying over a table and crash-landed on a group of Aussie rules footballers, spilling their drinks in the process.”

Chappell said Botham put an empty beer glass to his throat and said: “I’ll cut you from ear to ear.”

Time will tell if the pair truly extend the olive branch.