Cricket legend Ian Botham has expressed deep concern over England's preparations for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
While the English team is talking up its chances of a first series win in Australia since 2010/11, and Stuart Broad has labelled the home team "the worst" since that contest 15 years ago, Botham has adopted a very different tone.
In years gone by, touring English sides would play a series of Ashes warm-up games against local state teams.
But in 2025, the Poms are taking on New Zealand in six limited-overs matches before a single three-day game against an England Lions team in Perth.
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“We’re going to wander in and have a little game with the ‘A’ team,” Botham told the Old Boys, New Balls podcast.
“Not one (state match), which borders on arrogance.
"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.”
Both teams will rely heavily on pace in their respective attacks, with Aussie skipper Pat Cummins (back) under a major fitness cloud for the first Test in Perth starting on November 21.
England also has a number of injury-prone quicks and Botham is concerned they won't have enough overs under their belts ahead of the gruelling five-match Aussie series.
“Bowlers don’t get fit in gyms, that’s been proven,” Botham said.
“Look at the record with injuries - (Mark) Wood, (Jofra) Archer, Ben Stokes, Brydon 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.”