‘One of those big ifs’: Ian Botham admits two lingering England concerns as Ashes series looms
Ian Botham has admitted the lack of practice matches for the England side isn’t the way he would have prepared for an Ashes series.
The tourists have started ramping things up in Perth for the five-game clash against Australia, which kicks off next Friday at Optus Stadium.
Ben Stokes was one of the first to arrive and now the full England squad have started to go through their paces, with Joe Root and Jofra Archer spotted training on Wednesday.
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However, during a press conference for the 150th anniversary Test match in 2027, the former captain gave an honest answer about the way England have approached things.
“It’s not the way I would prepare,” Botham said.
Ian Botham speaks to media Getty
“I think historically, you have to acclimatise when you come down here and you have to remember there’s 24.5 million people you’re playing against, not 11.
The comments echo those from Geoffrey Boycott, who labelled the preparations for such a big Test series as “foolish” during his column for the UK Telegraph.
“England’s preparation has been madness,” he wrote.
“If they win in Australia it will be in spite of their lack of match practice, not because of it.
“I played in two Ashes-winning teams in Australia and I believe you need to be put under pressure so you can fine-tune your skills. Fierce, competitive matches are the best preparation for the tough Test cricket to come.
“This modern-day preparation borders on foolish to players of my generation.”
The other big question mark surrounding the visitors centres around the fast-bowling cartel, which will be headlined by the aforementioned Archer and Mark Wood.
Jofra Archer at training Nine
Both men have struggled with fitness over the years, which Botham conceded will play a role in the outcome of the Ashes.
“It’s one of those big ifs,” he said.
“If the England bowlers stay fit, which doesn’t happen very often – but if they can stay fit and the captain can play a full part, I think England have got a real chance.”
However, the 69-year-old is confident England’s aggressive approach can work.
“I think it’s the right way, you want to be aggressive,” Botham said.
“Players if they’re not playing very well don’t like it in the ribs, so it will be interesting.
“I don’t know if they are going to rattle them, all of these guys have been around for a long time. I don’t think it’s a case of rattling them, it’s a case of winning.”
Botham also shrugged off the criticism and mockery of the Bazball and ‘moral victory’ lines that have been bandied about by those within the England set-up.
“I have no idea – I didn’t play for morals,” he said.
“I think if you look throughout the 70s and 80s, England played very much the same way.
“There’s nothing strange about it. I think the days of one or 1.5 runs per over are gone.”
From an Aussie perspective, former skipper Greg Chappell admitted the uncertainty surrounding who will open the batting needs to be figured out as soon as possible.
“I hope the powers that be know who their first-choice opener alongside [Usman] Khawaja is,” the Australian legend said.
“I think it’s an important role, it always has been an important role and specialists generally have done better than people have been press-ganged into the role.
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja Getty
“It’s not a matter of picking our No.3 batsman to go and open. Ian [Chappell] batted No.3 for Australia, Ricky Ponting batted No.3 for Australia and I’m not sure they would have been as good as openers, because it wasn’t their passion to open the batting.
“We are [talking about it] but maybe the selectors aren’t. I don’t have any intel, I don’t get any information from the inside and that’s the way it should be. I think within the walls, they probably know and I hope the person that’s doing the job knows.
“I think it’s something that you would rather find out a week or so in advance rather than the Bill Lawry idea of communications, which was right on the minute.
“I hope that they make the right choice, whatever they do.”
Jake Weatherald has been selected in the 15-man squad as he eyes off a debut, while Marnus Labuschagne is the other option to partner Khawaja and face the new ball.
