Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has expressed concerns over the team’s preparation for the upcoming Ashes series beginning on November 21 in Perth.
He believes playing only one warm-up game before a five-Test series is risky and could hurt England’s chances of winning the Ashes. Botham, one of the most successful England players of in the 1970s and 80s and a part of victorious Ashes sides, feels this team is not going to have sufficient time to get used to Australian conditions. He was critical of the state of fitness of the fast bowlers.
Speaking on the ‘Old Boys, New Balls’podcast, Botham said, “I’m worried. We’re going to wander in and have a little game with the ‘A’ team. Alright mate, how are you? Good on ya’ and we’re going to go and perform? Not one (state match), which borders on arrogance. You’ve got to give yourself the chance. They are saying we play too much cricket…I don’t think you play enough.”
Botham said conditions in Australia are always tough for the visiting teams. He pointed out the heat, bouncy pitches, and the intense support from the locals. “You’re not playing against the Australian cricket team, you’re playing against Australia — 24.5 million people,” he said.
He criticised England’s fitness approach, especially for the fast bowlers. “Bowlers don’t get fit in gyms, that’s been proven,” he said. “Look at the record with injuries — (Mark) Wood, (Jofra) Archer, (Ben) Stokes, Brydon Carse… they don’t play enough. You get fit by playing.”
England are aiming to win their first Ashes series in Australia since 2011. The last time they won it in England was in 2015.
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