Sunday 29 December 2013 21:00, UK
Alastair Cook says he has no plans to quit the England captaincy but accepts his position will come under scrutiny after a disastrous Ashes tour.
Before the series Botham confidently predicted that England would win the series 5-0 but the tourists have suffered a string of embarrassing collapses to make a mockery of the prediction. "It's just not good enough - it really isn't," said Botham. "A lot of the batsmen come out and look as if they are scared to play a shot; they scratch around, they dig holes for themselves, they go nowhere and they allow the Australian bowlers to keep plugging away. No pressure is put on the Australian bowlers. "Nathan Lyon took 5-50 on a wicket that hasn't turned. You've got to be kidding me! He bowled alright and he's done well but it's not a 5-50 wicket. "England have no ideas - there's nothing positive. Only one or two players are standing up. They almost seem scared of their own shadows. They are timid. Why? Where has this come from? Where is this coming from? "You've got to go out and play, be positive and believe in your own ability and go out there and play your natural game."
