They ‘don’t like it in the ribs’: How Botham says England could win the Ashes on enemy soil

3 months ago 17

England great Ian Botham has warned Australia’s batsmen they can expect a Bodyline-type attack from the visitors’ pace aces when the battle for the Ashes begins next week.

Botham, the feared all-rounder who encapsulated the Ashes battles of the 1980s, said the tourists now boasted an attack, led by speedsters Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, that had the capability of delivering their first series victory on Australian soil since 2010-11.

“I think West Indies did pretty well [in the 1980s] with four pace bowlers, and six waiting to get in. I think it’s the right way,” Botham said in Melbourne on Tuesday, adding the Australians should expect plenty of short stuff if they experience early struggles with the bat.

Australian great Greg Chappell and former England star Ian Botham were in Melbourne on Tuesday.

“I think you want to be aggressive, you want [the ball] to come through. Players, if they are not playing very well, don’t like it in the ribs, so it will be interesting.

“I don’t know if they are going to rattle them [Australia]. These [Australian] guys have been around for a long time. It’s not a case of rattling them – it’s a case of winning and trying to go out and win. That’s what they [England] do. They lose a few. They win a few.”

England were led for many years by greats Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, but the two fast-medium seamers struggled to have a consistent impact on Australia’s fast and bouncy pitches.

While a now-fit Wood and Archer are the headline acts, Botham said the tourists had a fleet of quicks, including a strapping Brydon Carse, who has 36 wickets in nine Tests and can intimidate with his quick arm action.

“I think Carse might surprise a few of you – he’s a very aggressive bowler, he has enough pace to make you hop around a bit. He can bat a bit as well,” Botham said.

“He is a good cricketer. Everyone is focused on Wood and Archer, but I think Carse will slide in quietly.”

England’s long-planned bid to attack Australia with raw pace comes as the host nation is still mulling – at least publicly – over its batting line-up.

Just who will partner veteran opener Usman Khawaja at the top of the order remains unclear, with a final decision impacting the rest of the order. Whether all-rounder Cameron Green is capable of bowling the required spells needed in a Test is also a major question with serious ramifications on the batting order.

Botham, the hero of a stunning home Ashes win in 1981, and also two victorious tours of Australia in 1978-79 and 1986-87, suggested the Australians were playing into England’s hands.

“From an England point of view, the longer they [Australia] keep the other lad from knowing who is going to be opening, [the more it will] will work in favour of the bowlers,” Botham said.

“But … I am sure they already know who is doing what – they perhaps just don’t want to unveil it at the moment. I think it makes sense, but you need settled players at the top. I wouldn’t put [Marnus] Labuschagne as an opener – I would leave him at three.”

Botham had already made his feelings clear about England’s light Ashes warm-up, fearing a decision to play only a three-day game against an English development side, and not an Australian state side, “borders on arrogance”.

On Tuesday, he added: “It’s not the way I would prepare. I think, historically, you have to acclimatise when you come down here. You have got to remember there are 24.5 million people you are playing against … you have to take that on board.”

Botham was loath to provide a series prediction, but did say “it’s going to be really tight, providing everyone stays fit”.

Botham was with another legendary Ashes figure on Tuesday, chatting beside former rival Greg Chappell in a function room overlooking the MCG at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.

The pair was brought together by Cricket Australia to promote the 150th anniversary Test in 2027, to be played between Australia and England at the MCG.

CA has implemented a ticket ballot to ensure all fans have an equal opportunity to secure their seats for the day-night Test.

The ballot window runs from December 23, 2025, to February 6, 2026. When the ballot closes, all entries will be randomised to determine the order in which tickets are allocated. Successful applicants will be notified by February 13.

Chappell played in the famous centenary Test of 1977, which Australia won by 45 runs – the same margin as the first-ever Test in 1877. A young Botham was a net bowler for England.

The Pullman Hotel, then known as the Melbourne Hilton, had a central role in the centenary Test, given it was where the two teams and former players stayed, and discussions among players about the impending World Series Cricket breakaway were held.

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