22 May 2019

Botham says Smith and Warner can expect an earful from England fans

10:47 am on 22 May 2019

Sir Ian Botham has warned Australian duo Steve Smith and David Warner to brace themselves for an earful of abuse from England cricket fans during the World Cup and The Ashes.

Sir Ian Botham.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The legendary England allrounder said he had no sympathy for Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft following the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town last year.

The trio all served suspensions for their roles in the incident 16 months ago.

"I hate cheating and that is what they did, they cheated," Botham said.

"One of the players (Bancroft) captains my county (Durham) and I'll have to show him that Fosters advert where the Aussie lads are taking phone calls for advice while rubbing a ball with sandpaper.

"The Barmy Army have already done about eight or nine songs - I think David Warner might feature a fair bit in those."

Warner, Bancroft and Smith were the only players punished over the incident but Botham claimed there was no way the Australian bowling attack wouldn't have been aware the ball was doctored.

"As a bowler you know everything about the ball and what shape it is in," he said.

"There is not a chance in the world that the bowlers in that team wouldn't have known there had been sandpaper rubbed on that ball."

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Photo: Photosport

The 63-year-old spends up to six months of the year in Australia working on his wines with South Australia winemakers Geoff Merrill and Marty Edwards and said the country feels like his second home.

After the Ashes Botham will end his 25-year run with Sky Sports' commentary team to focus solely on developing his wines - something he said has been as rewarding as anything he achieved in cricket.

However, he's fully confident England will regain The Ashes urn in and even channelled the spirit of Glenn McGrath by predicting a whitewash for Joe Root's side.

"I would say five nil, for Glenn McGrath I'd even say six nil even though there are only five games," he said.

"I think England will win because they have a home advantage and I think the Australian boys will be copping it a fair bit."

-AAP