AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

SIR IAN BOTHAM is backing 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 then the magic of Wasim Akram.

But he believes Eoin Morgan’s side have the quality and character to end 44 years of hurt by being crowned world champions for the first time.

Botham reckons that, just like his team of 1992, the current crop are the best team at the tournament – and now they must prove it.

“They have done everything they can to get to this point and the carrot is there for a side I believe is the best in the world in this format,” he said.

“They’ve given themselves a great chance to be heroes, first against the Aussies and then hopefully in the final. I would 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 some guts and all credit to them for that.

“It showed they are a team with character. They mean business and they are here to win it, which they have a great chance of doing.

“The history is there between England and Australia and we are both the team that the other loves to beat more than anyone else.”

And Botham is a huge part of that history, not just for his Ashes-winning exploits, but also for the way he bowled England to victory over the Aussies in a crucial group game at the World Cup 27 years ago.

The all-rounder celebrated his wicket-taking exploits with a fingerpointing 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 compliment that they were giving a nod back to that tournament.

“I thought, ‘Thank you very much boys, well remembered!’ although I think most of them were still babies and a few 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 and that is the chance this team has now.

England beat South Africa in the last four before losing 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 TV pundit, and will be back behind the microphone for at least one more Ashes series this summer.

But the 63-year-old’s latest venture “Botham Wines” is proving to be a hit as he puts his heart into another of his passions.

The cricket and the charity walks may be behind him, but the sight of another all-rounder performing on the biggest stage gets him excited.

“Ben Stokes is a terrific cricketer and we’ve known that for a long time,” said the legend. “He’s crucial to England’s chances.

“He is a guy who I would have loved to line up with. I like his approach, I like his ‘get out and 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 is fielding, batting or bowling. He is just 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 will be in a battle when he is in the game.”