Tuesday 21 July 2015 14:00, UK
Sir Ian Botham says England should not get "depressed" by their humbling 405-run defeat to Australia in the second Investec Ashes Test.
Australia levelled the series at 1-1 with a thumping victory at Lord's, skittling England out for just 103 on Sunday to inflict an embarrassing defeat on the hosts with a day to spare.
England have been heavily criticised by pundits and commentators. Botham, however, says some perspective is needed.
"Well played Australia, they out-gunned England," he said. "But England mustn't get too down and too depressed because it was the other way round at Cardiff. That's only one game before where England outplayed and bossed Australia. It's one-one.
"England have a nice break now - eight, nine or 10 days whatever it is. They can go and re-group. Bowlers can rest and be ready to go."
The hero of the 1981 Ashes series believes that the flat Lord's pitch was of huge benefit to the tourists, who won the toss.
"I think when they took the grass off the pitch, they played into Australia's hands a bit. Then they lost the toss, England, so it was always going to be tough," said Botham.
"Australia made the most out of winning the toss on a great pitch. They got 556-8 and England were 30-4. You are climbing up a mountain after that. Give credit where it's due, Australia deserved to win. They bossed the game throughout.
"But England have got nine or 10 days to sort in out. Let the dust settle. Look at it and say 'crikey boys, we didn't do too well there, we have to put it right.'"
And England legend Botham still believes the rest of the series is too close to call.
"Very much so. I've said it all along," he said. "There will be one game in it. I don't think there will be drawn Tests, unless the weather interferes dramatically, because it's not the way these two sides play the game.
"It seems to me that whoever wins seems to win comfortably by a big margin. So whose turn is it in the next game?"
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