Monday 23 May 2016 09:06, UK
Sir Ian Botham has backed England to rise to top spot in the Test rankings after their emphatic innings victory over Sri Lanka.
England beat the tourists by an innings and 88 runs inside three days at Headingley with centurion Jonny Bairstow edging James Anderson, who recorded match figures of 10-45, to the man of the match award.
However, while totals of 91 and 119 are likely to see the Sri Lankan batsmen come in for criticism, Botham believes their inexperience and England's quality must be taken into account.
"A lot of these guys won't have seen anything quite like this," said the former England all-rounder.
"They've got a couple of experienced players and the openers have played about 20 games I think, but after that they really are novices, particularly in English conditions, so you have to give them a bit of leeway.
"Hopefully they'll learn quickly from their own point of view but it's very easy for us to forget that England are a very good Test team. They're a team that I think will go to No 1 in the world in the next year or so, as soon as they can.
"They'll be right back up there very shortly and that's what these teams do. England have got an exceptionally good bowling attack - and they were a bowler down don't forget."
The bowler in question was Ben Stokes, who was forced to sit out the majority of the third day with an injury sustained on Friday.
Should the 24-year-old all-rounder fail to recover in time for the second Investec Test at Chester-le-Street, Botham can see England opting for an extra seamer rather than a batsman to replace him.
"First and foremost, I'd be very surprised if Ben Stokes doesn't play at Durham. It's a home game for him and he'll be desperate to do well," said the Sky Sports pundit.
"If the injury can't be repaired in time or he isn't match fit then I wouldn't be surprised to see England go with one of the young bowlers they've got lined up.
"I think they're possibly thinking of bringing in a bowler because if you've got three seamers who are going well - Anderson, Broad and Finn - it gives you the opportunity to look at another seamer in that environment.
"Jake Ball is probably the next cab on the rank and fine, play him. It gives you an opportunity in the actual arena, because the team is playing so well, it's much easier to test players and give them an outing than when you're struggling. It'd be a perfect opportunity if that's what they want to do."
