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Ian Botham has launched a fresh broadside at the decision by England to arrange just a single intra-squad match before the start of the Ashes, saying the tourists need more red ball practice in Australia and time to get used to local crowds.
The last group of England’s players only arrived in Perth on Sunday, less than two weeks before the start of the first Test on 21 November. England will play the Lions on Thursday in their only Ashes warm-up.
The former all-rounder questioned the decision. “Well, it’s not the way I would prepare,” he said, speaking in Melbourne on Tuesday to announce a ticket ballot for next year’s 150th anniversary Test at the MCG.
Ahead of the last Ashes tour in 2021 England played two intra-squad matches in Brisbane, but in 2017 there was a more expansive schedule including four matches against local sides. The tourists failed to win a Test in either series.
Although a contracted lead-in has become common under coach Brendan McCullum, Botham said in a podcast last month that this tour’s programme “borders on arrogance”.
“Historically you have to acclimatise when you come down here,” he said on Tuesday. “You’ve got to remember there’s twenty four and a half million people you’re playing against.”
Australia’s population is now close to 28 million, but just one will get to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Botham said it shouldn’t be Marnus Labuschagne, but the man the selectors choose – or have already chosen – must be informed as early as possible.
“The longer they keep the other lad knowing who’s going to be opening will work in favour of the bowlers,” he said. “You need to settle players at the top, and I’d leave [Labuschagne] at three.”
Greg Chappell, who captained Australia to victory against England in the 1977 Centenary Test, said the selectors shouldn’t underestimate the value of having a specialist opener.
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“I hope the powers that be know who their first choice opener alongside Khawaja is because I think it’s an important role, it always has been an important role,” he said.
Specialist opener Jake Weatherald has been named in the Australian squad, but he has not yet been confirmed in the XI for Perth.
Chief selector George Bailey said last week No 3 batters also have the “capability” to open the batting, including Labuschagne.
Chappell questioned that logic. “Opening is a role that I think you need to want to do, and most openers are pretty passionate about getting in there and batting first,” he said.
“It’s not a matter of, well, ‘we’ll pick our No 3 batsman to go and open’ because Ian [Chappell] batted No 3 for Australia, Ricky Pointing batted No 3 for Australia, I’m not sure they would have been as good as openers because it wasn’t their passion to open the batting.”
The first Test begins at Optus Stadium in Perth on 21 November.
