Ian Botham tags the current Australian team as the poorest he has ever seen

It is a matter of norm before a high-octane Ashes series that cricketers from the two sides engage in sledging each other. The tradition has been followed for many years now and still is ongoing in the prelude to the Ashes in November.

Former England star and renowned cricket pundit Ian Botham, in an attempt to unruffle the Australian feathers, claimed that the present Australian side is the poorest he has seen for a long time.

As a matter of fact, the Australians have been struggling in all formats for the past 18 months. It was only a few months back when South Africa humbled the Australians at their own backyard by clinching the 3-match Test series. They lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a margin of 2-1.

They also a Test defeat against Bangladesh for the first time in history but managed to salvage their pride by squaring the series at 1-1.

If you are going to take Ben Stokes out of the equation, you need two players: Botham

“One thing I would say for sure is everyone just wants to have look at that Australian side. They are not very good. They are one of the poorest sides I’ve seen for a long time so I would not be too bothered,” commented Ian Botham according to Sportskeeda.

Botham, after ECB pulled the name of Ben Stokes out of the Ashes squad, wasn’t quite elated about the decision of replacing the all-rounder with Steve Finn. Botham believes that with the absence of Stokes, the Three Lions are deficient in batting as well.

“I’m surprised they have gone that way. I’ve nothing against Finney (Steve Finn), but I think if you are going to take Ben Stokes out of the equation, you need two players. You need to take a batsman and a bowler,” further added the Chairman of Durham CCC.

The first match of the Ashes series is scheduled to start on November 23 at Gabba, Brisbane.