Ben is the heartbeat... where he leads others will follow
Botham backs Stokes to better his efforts and lift the World Cup
SIR IAN BOTHAM has backed England to beat Australia today and then lift the World Cup.
Botham played in two World Cup finals, in 1979 and 1992, but came unstuck against the brilliance of Sir Viv Richards and then the magic of Wasim Akram.
But he believes Eoin Morgan’s side have the quality to not only get past Australia in their semi-final today, but to go on and be crowned world champions for the first time.
Botham believes that, just like his team of 1992, the current crop are the best team at the tournament and must now prove it.
“They’ve done everything they can to get to this point and the carrot is there for a side who, I believe, are the best in the world in this format,” said Botham.
“They’ve given themselves a great chance to be heroes – first against the Aussies and then hopefully in the final. And I’d love to see them go one better than I did. I’m pleased with the way they picked themselves up and put some poor results behind them.That took guts.
“It showed they are a team with character. They mean business and they’re here to win it, which they have a great chance of doing.”
It is the sight of another all-rounder performing on the biggest stage that really gets him animated.
“Ben Stokes is a terrific cricketer and we’ve known that for a long time,” said Botham. “He’s crucial to England’s chances.
“He’s a guy who I would have loved to line up with. I like his approach, his ‘get-outand-win’ style, never taking a backwards step, which is the way you have to take on the Aussies.
“He is box office. I love watching him play whether he’s fielding, batting or bowling. He’s a highly competitive character who wants to win and will do whatever he can to help the team.
“Guys like Stokes are the heartbeat of a team and others will follow where he goes, and I’m sure the Aussies will know they’ll be in a battle when he’s in the game. “The history is there between England and Australia and we’re both the team that
the other loves to beat more than anyone else.”
Botham is a huge part of that history, not just for his Ashes-winning exploits but for the way he bowled England to victory over the Aussies in a crucial group game at the World Cup 27 years ago. He celebrated his wicket-taking exploits with a finger-pointing dance.
It is a celebration that has been copied by Chris Woakes and Joe Root this summer.
“I had a little chuckle at the odd celebration that reminded me of 1992,” added Botham. “I took that as a bit of a compliment that they were giving a nod back to that tournament.
“I thought, ‘Thank you very much boys, well remembered!’ I think most of them were still babies then, though, and a few of them hadn’t even been born. It goes to show how much it means to get to a final and how it stays a part of sporting history.”
England beat South Africa in the last four before losing out to Pakistan, and Botham added: “It was a great feeling to win the semi-final and get to the final. I thought we were the best side in that World Cup. But we were beaten on the day by Pakistan and Wasim Akram, who was incredible.”
Since retiring, Botham, now Durham chairman, has forged a successful 25-year career as a commentator and pundit and will be back behind the mike for at least one more Ashes series this summer.
But the 63-year-old’s latest venture ‘Botham Wines’ is proving a hit as he puts his heart into another one of his life’s passions.
England are best in the world at this format