CRICKET legend Ian Botham was involved in a row against masked hunt protesters.

Beefy disagreed with the saboteurs, who ambushed his grouse-shooting party.

His 4x4 was and other vehicles were stopped by the group of balaclavas for over an hour on a single moor track.

After they were forced from the shoot by Hunt Saboteurs Association members, Botham's friends called police.

As they attempted to drive off last Tuesday, the group sat down next to the ex-england captain and his friends.

After an hour of standoff, they agreed to go.

One sab stated: "One member of our team is a huge cricket fan, and he recognized Beefy instantly.

"We were amazed at seeing someone famous. It was a privilege to meet someone in public eye -- but he seemed very annoyed and wasn't happy to see us."

Later, the Hunt Saboteurs Association boasted that Lord Ian 'Beefy'Botham was among many grouse shooters returning home empty-handed.

Pro-hunt Botham (66), is now a pundit. He was 12 when he started shooting air rifles.

He previously attacked protesters, insisting that shooting is good for bird conservation and management.

He accused Springwatch host Chris Packham, 2020, of being at the top of a group of "grim ecowarriors" who wanted to ban game shoots.

Packham responded by tweeting "Oh dear! What a shame!"

Lee Moon of the HSA stated: "Grouse shooting remains legal, but completely immoral.

"Hunt Saboteurs use nonviolent direct action and are happy to explain to shooters why they believe their actions are wrong."

South Yorkshire Police stated that the protest group had been dispersed.

A man in his 50s was taken into custody for possessing a knife.