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 each time against the brilliance of Sir Viv Richards and then the magic of Wasim Akram. However, he believes Eoin Morgan’s 2019 side have the quality and the character to end 44 years of hurt by being crowned world champions for the first time on Sunday.
Botham reckons that, just like his team of '92, the current crop are the best team at the tournament – but says now they must prove it.
“They have done everything they can to get to this point and the carrot is there for a side who I believe is the best in the world in this format,” said Botham, before the Edgbaston semi-final. “They’ve given themselves a great chance to be heroes, first against the Aussies and then hopefully in the final. And 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 that 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.”
Botham is a huge part of that history, not just for his Ashes-winning exploits, but also the way he bowled England to victory over the Aussies in a crucial group game at the World Cup 27 years ago.
He celebrated those wicket-taking exploits with a finger-pointing dance that has been copied by the likes of England duo 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!’ — although I think most of them were still babies and a few of them hadn’t even been born. I think 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 that this team has now."
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.”
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Since retiring Botham — now chairman at Durhm, one of his old county sides — has forged a successful 25-year career as a commentator and 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 one of his life’s passions.
The cricket and the charity walks might be behind him, but the sight of a fellow all rounder performing on the biggest stage gets him animated.
“Ben Stokes is a terrific cricketer — and we’ve known that for a long time,” said Botham.
“He is 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 that the Aussies will know they will be in a battle when he is in the game.”