“Are We Ready for This?”: Ian Botham Slams England’s Ashes Prep, Warns of Australian Dominance | APT - video Dailymotion

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Former England captain Ian Botham has questioned the team’s lean preparations ahead of the Ashes series starting November 21 in Perth. England’s full squad only arrived last Sunday, while Australia’s players are already playing red-ball cricket in the Sheffield Shield. Botham warned that England may struggle to adapt quickly and suggested a four-prong pace attack as a potential counter.  #Ashes2025 #IanBotham #EnglandCricket

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00:00Good morning.

00:30Well, it's not the way I would prepare.

00:38I think historically you have to acclimatise when you come down here.

00:43You've got to remember the 24.5 million people you're playing against, not 11.

00:48And you have to take that on board.

00:51And to start in Perth was an interesting decision after Fortress-Gaba.

00:56But I'm wondering if they think perhaps get England, they're not doing a lot apart from netballing or what have you,

01:01because the ball does get quicker, it gets to you, it seems to get there quicker,

01:05and the light's different, and you've got the Fremantle Docks.

01:08So there's all kinds of things that go into the melting pot.

01:11It is an interesting attack, an England attack.

01:15I think it's exciting to think that we're going to see a real contest.

01:19History tells you that pretty much every series that's been won in Australia

01:24has been won by the best bowling side, which has usually been fast bowling.

01:30I think it's one of those ifs, big ifs.

01:33If England bowlers stay fit, which doesn't happen very often,

01:38but if they can stay fit and the captain can play a full part,

01:42then I think they've got a real chance.

01:44Yeah, but I hope the powers that be know who their first-choice opener alongside Kawaja is,

01:52because I think it's an important role, it always has been an important role.

01:56Specialists generally have done better than people that have been press-ganged into the role.

02:03Opening is a role that I think you need to want to do.

02:05No, I think it's the right way.

02:08You want to be aggressive, you want to come through.

02:10And players, if they're not playing very well, don't like it in the ribs.

02:15So, yeah, it'll be interesting.

02:18Can they rattle Australia with that kind of attack?

02:21I don't know if they're going to rattle them.

02:22All these guys have been around for a long time, so...

“Are We Ready for This?”: Ian Botham Slams England’s Ashes Prep, Warns of Australian Dominance | APT

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