Wednesday 9 November 2016 06:34, UK
Sir Ian Botham says England should not be written off ahead of their Test series in India with Ben Stokes backed to lead them to victory.
After England's recent struggles on the sub-continent in Bangladesh - drawing the series 1-1 - India go into the five-match campaign as red-hot favourites.
But Botham, who will be commentating on the series for Sky Sports, says England are capable of repeating their 2012/13 series success in the country.
The former all-rounder said: "The last time England were here no-one saw them winning and we hammered them (by 10 wickets in Mumbai and seven wickets in Kolkata to win the series 2-1) so let's not get let's not get too gloomy.
"Forget Bangladesh - this is the Test series that matters. Congratulations to them but everyone is looking at this series. It's the number-one team against the guys who could be number one further down the line."
Botham, who is also providing his tips for Sky Bet during the series, added: "There's no value in backing India at 1/10. If you're having bet, it has to be England at 12/1 - you can even have a saver at 10/1 on the drawn series although they are rare these days."
Botham, who toured India himself with England back in 1981/82, also believes Stokes is the man who can shine with the bat for the tourists with his positive approach set to reap dividends.
With holes having appeared in England's top order, Stokes - 7/1 to be England's top runscorer - looks capable of capitalising, just as he did in South Africa last winter when he made a memorable 258 in Cape Town, says Botham.
"Stokes can destroy spinners. He will attack them and be aggressive. As far as the bowlers go, you have to back a spinner to star - it's going to be hard work for the seamers - but we aren't entirely sure who's going to play.
"Moeen Ali should though and I can see him taking plenty of wickets in India." Ali is 11/4 to be England's top wicket-taker in the series.
After a sensational 2016 which has seen him take 44 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 19.86, Ravi Ashwin is the man everyone's talking about in India's attack but Botham believes Ravindra Jadeja - 7/2 to be India's leading wicket-taker - could cause just as many problems as the left-armer will be turning the ball away from most of England's best batsmen.
As for top India bat, Ajinkya Rahane (9/2) is one to keep an eye on and capable of outshining India's leading light Virat Kohli, says Beefy.
England to win - 12/1
Ben Stokes to be top England runscorer - 7/1
Moeen Ali to be top England wicket-taker - 11/4
Ravindra Jadeya to be top India wicket-taker - 7/2
Ajinkya Rahane to be top India runscorer - 9/2
Watch the first Test between India and England from 3.30am on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD. Or watch the whole of the first Test for £10.99 without a contract - with a Week Pass from NOW TV.
