Why former Ashes winner Ian Botham is 'worried' by England's preparations for Australia series as they look to win urn Down Under
By Leon Imber
Published 14/10/2025 at 15:25 GMT+1
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Ian Botham was a member of England's squad in their victorious Ashes tours of 1978-79 and 1986-87, and he is concerned about the preparations of Brendon McCullum's side heading into the 2025/26 five-Test series against Australia. England have not won the Ashes on Australian soil since 2010/11, and Botham feels they are not putting their best foot forward as they look to end their away woes.
Lyon warns England to expect 'totally different conditions' down under
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ian Botham says he is "worried" by England's preparations for the upcoming Ashes in Australia.
Botham, who featured in England's 1978/79 and 1986/87-winning squads in Australia, laid bare his concerns over the schedule of Brendon McCullum's side.
England's only warm-up match in Australia is a three-day game against the travelling England Lions - their second-tier team. This is set to take place in mid-November, around a week before their opener against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 21.
Botham said the lack of match practice will not give England the best chance to adapt to the conditions Down Under.
"I'm worried. We're going to wander in and have a little game with the 'A' team," Botham said on the Old Boys, New Balls podcast.
"'Alright mate, how are you? Good on ya' and we're going to go and perform? Not one [warm-up match], which borders on arrogance.
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Can Bazball work down under? Starc says England have 'gone back on their word'
Video credit: TNT Sports
"You've got to give yourself the chance. They are saying we play too much cricket...I don't think you play enough.
"The conditions are different when you play cricket in Australia: the sun, the heat, the bounce, the crowd, the Aussie players, you've got to get used to all that. You're not playing against the Australian cricket team, you're playing against Australia - 24.5 million people."
All five matches in England's quest to claim the urn for the first time since 2015 will be available to watch via TNT Sports and discovery+.
Demonstrating the tough task ahead is the fact England have not won the Ashes in Australia since 2010/11.
- Lyon warns England not to expect 'docile featherbeds'
- Starc: England have 'gone back on their word' over Bazball
- England's bid to regain the Ashes to be broadcast live and exclusively on TNT Sports
And Botham feels England's hopes of ending their barren run will not be helped by the condition of their bowling attack.
Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse have all been hampered with respective injury issues, and Botham fears a cautious approach to their rehabilitation could cause a lack of match sharpness.
"Bowlers don't get fit in gyms, that's been proven," he said.
"Look at the record with injuries - Wood, Archer, Stokes, Carse...they don't play enough. You get fit by playing.
"If it goes horribly wrong, Mark Wood breaks down in the first game, or Jofra Archer does, or Ben can't bowl, we are suddenly chasing the eight-ball before we've started. It's a worry."
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Bethell 'looking forward to getting back in the ranks'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Which cricket matches are on TNT Sports?
TNT Sports will be the home of the England men’s cricket team this winter after agreeing a deal with Cricket Australia to broadcast the NRMA Insurance Ashes live and exclusively across its TV channels, streaming service and social platforms.
The agreement to broadcast every ball of the upcoming Ashes Series strengthens an action-packed winter of cricket on TNT Sports that already includes England’s white-ball tours of New Zealand in October (3 x One-Day Internationals and 3 x T20 Internationals), and Sri Lanka in January 2026.
TNT Sports is also the new official broadcast home of England men’s tour of India in 2028.
TNT Sports has agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
India hosted England in January and February 2025, and came away with dominant 3-0 and 4-1 victories over the tourists in the ODI and T20 series respectively.
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