Kolkata: Legendary English all-rounder Ian Botham rated this Australian team as one of the, “poorest” sides he has seen for a long time. He also said that he wouldn’t be worried about the outcome of the Ashes, which kicks off on November 23.
In an interaction with Omnisport on Saturday, he said, “One thing I will say is, everyone just wants to have a look at that Australian side. They’re not very good. One of the poorest sides I’ve seen for a long time. I wouldn’t be too bothered.”
Steve Smith and his men are not having a good time at the moment as they have already been handed a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of India in the five-match ODI series and also they went 1-0 down in the three match T20I series after they lost the first game in Ranchi on Saturday.
Botham also opened up on the Ben Stokes’ controversy and said that his absence in England’s Ashes squad would be a huge setback, after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that the Durham all-rounder wouldn’t be accompanying the team to Australia after the nightclub brawl in Bristol.
“It’ll be a massive blow, he’s one of the best players in the world. Of course, it will be a blow,” he said.
The iconic all-rounder also questioned Steven Finn’s inclusion in the team in Stokes’ absence and said that they should have instead named two players in the squad.
He said, “I’m surprised they’ve gone that way. Nothing against Finny but if you’re going to take Ben Stokes out of the equation, you need to take two players, you need to take a batsman and a bowler.”