England Ashes Favourite - Beefy

Getty Images

England are "red-hot" favourites for the Ashes down under, with a 5-0 whitewash of Australia on the cards, says former captain Sir Ian Botham.

Australia, beaten 3-0 in England this year, have been weakened by injuries to several fast bowlers.

James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Jackson Bird will miss the first Test, starting on 21 November.

"They are struggling with bowlers," Botham told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek. "5-0 is a real chance."

Australia were beaten at Trent Bridge,Lord's and Durham but outplayed England for large portions of the weather-affected draws at Old Trafford and The Oval.

Nonetheless, Botham believes England remain comfortably the better side.

"Are Australia better than the recent scoreline suggests? No," said Botham, England's highest Test wicket-taker with 383.

"They are rebuilding but I think they are struggling. They have got a lot of injuries. I think England are red-hot favourites.

"What's my forecast? Oh, I have to stay with 5-0. Just to annoy the Aussies. It's possible. It really is possible."

Botham believes the bouncier surfaces down under will lend themselves to more riveting cricket.

"I expect to see pitches with more pace and bounce, which will suit the England team. But it also suits the Australia team," he added.

"Put that into the melting pot and I can see exciting cricket coming."

Related articles

• England will easily see off Australia in Ashes again, says Sir Ian Botham
• 'England are red-hot favourites', says Sir Ian Botham
• Former skipper Ian Botham tips Ashes whitewash for England Down Under this winter
• Botham: England have Ashes edge
• Injured Aust can be routed: Botham
• Britain England Australia Ashes Cricket

Botham Backs England

Sir Ian Botham is backing England to stay at the top of the Test rankings for the foreseeable future.

Botham, England's leading Test wicket-taker, says the team will reassert themselves following the 3-0 loss to Pakistan and a 1-1 draw with Sri Lanka.

"This winter is part of the learning curve," said Botham. "You can go in at number one and get a little blase.

"But they are still number one and I think they are going to stay at number one for quite a while now."

England clung on to their number one spot by beating Sri Lanka in Colombo, to claim their only Test victory at the end of a difficult winter against subcontinental sides.

Andrew Strauss's men face the West Indies in a three-Test home series from 17 May, before a potential showdown for the number one spot with South Africa in July and August.

Botham blames an underperforming batting line-up for some poor winter results, but believes the side have now turned a corner.

"The bowlers were magnificent throughout and it has to be said the batsmen just didn't turn up," added Botham.

"Why that is, I haven't got a clue - and I don't think they know.

"England are a good team. I don't know what went wrong in the first part of the winter.

"If you put your guard down, someone will bite you on the bum but I think England will come good again now."

Botham, speaking at the conclusion of the Birmingham-Clent Hills leg of his latest walk across Britain in aid of raising funds and awareness of leukaemia, also defended Strauss from criticism over his batting performances and captaincy.

He said: "You are always going to get over-the-top stuff. You get that with certain elements of the media.

"It's like Kevin Pietersen. Two or three weeks ago some people wanted Kevin Pietersen out. What planet are these people on?

"Strauss is good enough to carry on for another couple of years. He deserves to."
England's Test SummerMay 17-21: West Indies (Lord's)
May 25-29: West Indies (Trent Bridge)
June 7-11: West Indies (Edgbaston)
July 19-23: South Africa (Oval)
Aug 2-6: South Africa (Headingley)
Aug 16-20: South Africa (Lord's)




Join OSM news service