England are the best side in the world right now: Ian Botham

Former England Test cricketer Ian Botham said that the current England side in the best in the world right now. According to him, England deserves to be ranked no.1 instead of languishing in its present position at number four.

“England are the best side in the world right now and certainly the most feared – they proved it against Australia and then beat South Africa on their own soil,” Botham was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Wednesday.

The English team’s record in Tests has been quite phenomenal in recent times as they defeated Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. “England are a confident side and a very well-organized unit. I don’t pay too much attention to the ranking system, they deserve to be number one in the world now.”

I can’t see Pakistan winning a match: Ian Botham

England had lost only once in their previous 7 Test series, which was against Pakistan in UAE in 2015. Botham feels England will walk away handsome winners at the end of the series.

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Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir had already sent some warming to the English batsmen with his performance in the warm-up match but Botham doesn’t feel that they would be able to pull off a win against the hosts. “It will be an exciting series but I can’t see Pakistan winning a match,” he said.

He is glad to see Joe Root batting at no.3 and said that it is the position at which all the best players of their respective teams’ bat. “I’ve no problem with Joe batting at three. All the best batsmen in world cricket bat at three – look at Ricky Ponting and Viv Richards,” Botham said. “Joe is the best batsman in the world right now, and I’m sure he’ll be fine with moving up the order,” he concluded.

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