‘Beefy’ backing England to test Proteas

Botham, who has been in South Africa for his fundraising initiative ‘Beefy walking the Rainbow Nation', will commentate on the four-match Test series.  

Both teams come into the series looking to regain form. For the Proteas, a long and taxing tour of India ended in defeat - their first series loss away from home in nine years. Meanwhile Pakistan beat England 2-nil in their Test series.

Speaking exclusively to ECRSportswave earlier this month, Botham said England would prove a handful for the Proteas.

“At the end of the day, England have been very successful recently, apart from their little hiccup in the UAE against Pakistan, but very rarely does anyone go down there and win - as South Africa know. It’s a really tough area to play,” Botham said.

“But they did go to India a couple of years ago and beat them in their own backyard on turning pitches. England also beat Australia, so they are on a bit of a roll in Test matches and they’re young side – that’s where the Australians caught a cold in England last summer. Their side was an old and aging team and once they had a couple of key injuries, they didn’t have the fire power and I’m worried about South Africa. Dale Steyn is carrying this groin injury, and he and Morne Morkel haven’t played together in the entire series (against India). They’ve lost some really high class players in the last couple of years – the Graeme Smiths of this world, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini – the list goes on and these guys haven’t been replaced yet. I really do believe that if South Africa and their supporters think that it’s going to be a walk in the park against England, they’re in for a bit of a shock and surprise. This side has a lot of grit, they like winning, they’re a young side, have new management, new thinking and policies,” Botham enthused.

As for the England squad, Botham was just as optimistic. Many a pundit pondered over the omission of Ian Bell, none more so than former England international Kevin Pietersen. KP took to twitter to vent his views – backing Bell as one of England’s best Test batsmen in recent years.

Botham conceded Bell would have earned a spot if not for his recent dip in form and suggested a non-selection would be a blessing in a disguise for 33-year-old.

“I have no problems with Ian Bell being left out. The last 12 matches for England he’s been averaging 20 or less. I think it will do him good – he’s played for 11 years solid now and playing for that length of time catches up with you,” Botham said.

“He’s got a young family and I think having a winter off will recharge his batteries. He can spend some quality time with his family, have Christmas at home - things like that which these guys don’t get very often. I don’t think it will do him any harm whatsoever and I think he will bounce back. If you’d have picked eleven Don Bradman’s I’m sure KP would have had a thought on why one of them should or shouldn’t have been picked,” Botham quipped.

Looking ahead to the Test series, Botham said it was well overdue - the two sides last met in 2012.

“I can’t understand why it’s taken so long for two of the best sides in the world to go head to head – The last time we played we were one and two in the World and that was a long time ago. I was in SA to do the first launch for this walk and I got an immediate buzz – people were talking about it then and that was two months out. That tells you how much the South African public is looking forward to seeing this contest. Of course they’ll want their country to do well and quite rightly so. I’ll be looking forward to catching up with a few fellow commentators and lots of friends in South Africa – they haven’t been quite as chirpy on our arrival as they have been in the past so I’m really looking forward to it – it will be a great series.”

The first Test gets underway on 26 December at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

Twitter - @ECRSportswave