England to dominate Ashes - Botham - Sport in brief

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Former national captain Botham, renowned for his urn-winning performances in the 1981 series between the rivals, believes the retirement of key figures like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath have undermined Australia's bowling reserves.

He has therefore tipped England's bowling unit, which in Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff features just two of the five-man attack which won the Ashes in 2005, to dominate their opponents. "I do believe we'll win quite comfortably over here," he told Radio Five Live.

He added: "I don't believe they will win. I predicted it in '05 and I predict it again. We have the bowlers - the one thing Australia are lacking."

Botham does not appear to rate especially highly the likes of Mitchell Johnson, part of the attack behind pace spearhead Brett Lee.

"They have Brett Lee. But after that, there's nothing; there's no spinner and no Glenn McGrath.

"There's no threat. If the (English) bowlers stay fit I think we will win the series."