Aussie line-up 'one of the poorest I've seen'

Legendary allrounder Sir Ian Botham says England have nothing to fear in the Magellan Ashes this summer, slamming Australia's batting order as "one of the poorest I've seen" and questioning the fitness of the home side's fast-bowling attack.

Australia are favourites to regain the Ashes urn they lost in 2015, with the uncertainty surrounding England's top-order and the ongoing police investigation into allrounder Ben Stokes meaning the tourists have plenty of unanswered questions heading into the first Test later this month.

Not only is Botham largely unconcerned about England's batting line-up and believes Stokes could end up playing a major role in the series, he saved his strongest comments for the hosts.

The 61-year-old says captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner "could end up with some serious back pain come January" due to the heavy batting load they will carry this summer.

"England should be feel bullish about their chances of winning the Ashes because Australia’s batting line-up is one of the poorest I’ve seen," Botham wrote in his column for The Mirror.

"I keep on hearing and reading from former players about how England are going to get hammered ... the reality is the Aussie batting should hold no fears for England because once they get past David Warner and Steve Smith, there is very little else to worry about.

"Let’s get a bit of perspective here after the opinions of the so-called experts, who must realise that Warner and Smith could end up with some serious back pain come January after carrying the load.

"There is not a lot of support behind them and England have a stronger line-up from where I’m sitting, despite their concerns at No.3."

Smith and Warner are set to be joined in the batting order by Usman Khawaja, who averages 64 from 13 Tests at home, as well as impressive rookies Peter Handscomb and Matthew Renshaw, who scored three centuries between them in just four Tests last summer.

Botham also laughed off any suggestion that the pace of Australia's quicks will see them rip through an unsettled England batting order, pointing out that Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Patrick Cummins have a chequered history when it comes to staying on the park.

The trio are set to line up at The Gabba from November 23, with Starc and Hazlewood both on the comeback trail from injury and Cummins preparing for his first Test at home after a torrid run over the past five years with various ailments.

"What do England’s batsmen have to be worried about? A bit of pace? When was the last time any of the Australia pace attack played in all five matches of a series?" Botham wrote.

"Of their current crop only Mitchell Starc has done it in 2015 and that didn’t go so well for Australia as I remember.

"More common is the sight of their fast bowlers breaking down. The series hasn’t even started yet and James Pattinson has been ruled out with a back injury.

"Starc is returning from a foot problem which has kept him out of action for most of the year and Pat Cummins has never played a Test match at home because of an injury ravaged career that has restricted him to five Test matches in six years!"

In addition to talking up rookie England opener Mark Stoneman and a strong middle order of Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali, Botham believes Stokes will still be a big factor this summer.

The allrounder's immediate future is in limbo due to an ongoing police investigation stemming from a brawl in Bristol in September and he did not fly to Australia with the rest of England's squad last weekend.

"I see people have written him off for all the Ashes Tests, but if he is cleared by police, why wouldn’t he jump on the next available plane?" Botham wrote of Stokes.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21