Ian Botham concerned about England’s Ashes preparations

Former England captain Ian Botham has raised questions about the team’s lean Ashes preparations and whether the players will be ready to take on an entire nation backing Australia’s bid to retain the urn.

England did not have its full squad in Perth until last Sunday and will play one internal match before the series-opener starts in the Western Australian capital on November 21.

All but one of Australia’s Ashes squad, meanwhile, are warming up with the red ball in domestic Sheffield Shield matches around the country.

A number of England’s players played white-ball cricket in neighbouring New Zealand before arriving, but Botham said touring teams traditionally needed time to adjust to Australian 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 are 24 million people down here, not 11. And you have to take that on board. The ball does seem to get to you quicker (in Perth), and the light’s different. You’ve got the ‘Fremantle Doctor’; there are all kinds of things that go into the melting pot,” he added.

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Joe Root captained England, played two internal matches against the England Lions before the last 2021/22 Ashes in Australia and lost the series 4-0.

Botham expects a better outcome for Ben Stokes’s team this time around, as long as it can avoid too many 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 got a real chance,” Botham noted.

Botham said England could consider unleashing a four-prong pace attack against Australia, saying West Indies had done pretty well with a similar strategy in 2024 and split a two-Test series 1-1 with Pat Cummins’s team.

“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. So, yeah, it’ll be interesting,” he said.

Published on Nov 11, 2025