Ian Botham reckons England may win Ashes on enemy soil by hitting Australia ‘within the ribs’
The former England captain and Ashes legend told the team to copy the West Indies’ aggressive 1980s tactics and said no batters “like it in the ribs”
Sir Ian Botham has ramped up his fighting talk by urging England to fast bowl Australia “in the ribs” during the Ashes.
The former England captain told the team to copy the West Indies’ aggressive 1980s tactics that included four frontline quick bowlers.
The Test legend said the all-out pace attack the team rolled out should be the blueprint for England when the Ashes begins in Perth next week.
The tourists have brought frontline quicks Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse to Australia in search of a first away series win in 15 years.
Botham backed the plan to send fiery fast bowling to the Australians and declared no batters “like it in the ribs”.
He said: “I think the West Indies did pretty well with four pace bowlers and had six waiting to get in.
“I think it’s the right way, you want to be aggressive, you want to come through and players if they’re not playing very well don’t like it in the ribs.
“It will be interesting … I don’t know if they’ll be able to rattle them, a lot of these guys have been around a long time.
“It’s not a case of rattling them, it’s a case of going out and trying to win and that’s what they do.
“They lose a few, they win a few.”
Botham backed Brydon Carse to be the bowler who could impress in Australian conditions and step up.
He added: “I think Carse might surprise a few of you.
“He’s a very aggressive bowler, he’s got enough pace to make you hop around a bit and he can bat a bit – he’s a good cricketer.
“Everyone is focused on Wood and Archer, but I think Carse will slide in quietly there.”
It comes as Sir Ian again questioned England’s decision to play just one internal match in Australia before the start of the tournament.
Botham, who previously said the light warm-up schedule “borders on arrogance”, suggested England needed more time to adapt to the conditions.
They will only face the England Lions in a three-day match before the Ashes begins on 21 November.
Botham, who was part of away victories in 1978-79 and 1986-87, said: “It’s not the way I would prepare.
“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.”
