Wednesday 8 July 2015 08:21, UK
Legend Sir Ian Botham is backing skipper Alastair Cook to lead from the front as England bid to regain the Ashes.
Cook guided England to a 3-0 series win on home soil in their last Ashes triumph in 2013, but less than six months later saw the same side crumble to a 5-0 whitewash in Australia.
The England skipper looked to be back to his best in the recent drawn series against the West Indies and New Zealand, scoring 577 runs in his five Tests at an average of 64.11 and Botham is hopeful England's record run scorer can take that form into the Ashes.
The Sky Sports cricket commentator said: "England need their captain to score plenty of runs and I think he will get some big scores this series.
"He looked in good nick against New Zealand and I just hope he carries that on against Australia."
Botham is backing the hosts to secure a fourth successive Ashes victory in England but expects it to be very close.
"It will be very tight but I've got a good feeling England will win 3-2," explained Beefy.
"I think if the weather stays fine and both sides play very positively I expect there to be a result in every match.
Botham believes that the loss of Ryan Harris, who has been forced to retire with a knee injury, is a massive blow for the tourists ahead of the first Test in Cardiff, starting on Wednesday.
"It's sad for Ryan as it is for any player to be forced to retire through injury. I'm not sure if he's gone home yet but if not I hope to get the chance to see him and wish him well," added the former England skipper.
"He's a terrific bowler and Australia will definitely miss him, in fact I'd have picked him as my favourite to take the most series wickets. It's certainly a body blow for Australia."
With Harris out of the tour, Botham has picked 3/1 shot Josh Hazlewood as his selection for Australia's top series wicket-taker in his 'Beefy's Bets' although he's backing spinner Nathan Lyon, a 5/1 shot with Sky Bet, to take advantage of what he expects will be a very dry wicket at Sophia Gardens.
For England, Botham is backing Durham fast bowler Mark Wood to star with the ball at 4/1 with Sky Bet.
He added: "I've been very impressed with Wood since he came into the side. He's got that bit of extra-pace England have needed and provides an extra dimension to the attack."
Watch The Ashes live on Sky Sports, starting at 10am on Sky Sports Ashes HD on Wednesday. You can watch day one with a free NOW TV Sports Day Pass, while our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
