Botham slams Strauss absence

Legendary all-rounder blasts stay-away skipper

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Botham slams Strauss absence

Strauss: criticism from Botham

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Sir Ian Botham believes Andrew Strauss decision not to tour Bangladesh with the rest of his England team-mates could leave a long-lasting stain on his reputation.

The England captain will sit out the two-Test series, which gets underway in Chittagong on Friday, and has already missed a three-match one-day international series.

Strauss was granted an extended rest by England and, as well as opting out of the Bangladesh tour, will also take no part in the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in April and May, because he has already called time on his career in that format.

He will therefore not return to England colours until late May with the intention being that the 33-year-old will be fresh ahead of a long haul which will take England through summer series against Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan and will culminate with an Ashes and World Cup winter in 2010-11.

However, Botham is unconvinced by the rationale and insists Strauss should be out leading the England side in Bangladesh.

"Andrew Strauss should be with the England side," argued the legendary all-rounder. "The captain should be on board the ship - he's got to live with it.

"As captain, you need to be there with your team. I think it's a major mistake and I think people will remember this for a long time. I don't understand it.

"He can't be exhausted with his batting - he only averaged 24 in (the winter Test tour of) South Africa.

"It's not as if England have won their last three series and he's scoring 100s left, right and centre - he's not.

"He has been captain for just a year - and with the Ashes round the corner, he should be with the team.

"I was amazed he chose to take this time off - I was surprised he was given it."