Former England captain Ian Botham has questioned the team’s lackluster Ashes preparations and if the players will be prepared to face an entire country that supports Australia’s attempt to retain the urn.
Before the series opener begins in the capital of Western Australia on November 21, England will play one internal match. They did not have their entire team in Perth until last Sunday.
Meanwhile, every member of Australia’s Ashes team—aside from one—is practicing with the red ball in domestic Sheffield Shield games around the nation.
Before coming to Australia, a number of England cricketers played white-ball cricket in neighboring New Zealand, although Botham noted that touring teams typically require some time to get used to the local conditions.
“It’s not the way I would prepare,” Botham told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday. “I think historically you have to acclimatise when you come down here. You’ve got to remember there’s 24 million people down here, not 11. And you have to take that on board.”
“The ball does seems to get to you quicker (in Perth) and the light’s different. You’ve got the ‘Fremantle Doctor’; there’s all kinds of things go into the melting pot.”
England, led by Joe Root, had played two internal warm-up games against the England Lions ahead of the 2021–22 Ashes in Australia but went on to suffer a 0-4 drubbing. Botham hopes for a better showing from Ben Stokes’s side this time, provided they can steer clear of injuries.
“It’s one of those big ifs,” the 69-year-old said.
“If England’s bowlers can stay fit, which doesn’t happen very often, and the captain can play a full part then I think England have a got a real chance.”
Botham suggested that England could consider fielding a four-pronged pace attack against Australia, pointing out that the West Indies had successfully employed a similar strategy in 2024 to draw their two-Test series 1-1 against Pat Cummins’ side.
“I think it’s the right way. You want to be aggressive, come through and players, if they’re not playing very well, don’t like it in the ribs,” he said.
“So, yeah, it’ll be interesting.”
