'But I expect to see some England players making big impressions'
Tuesday 9 June 2015 13:58, UK
Sir Ian Botham thinks England's young side will impress but is still backing New Zealand to win the upcoming one-day international series.
England play the Black Caps at Edgabston on Tuesday in the first of five ODIs, which Botham thinks the visitors will get the better of 4-1.
"I hope I’m proven wrong but my gut feeling – having watched this New Zealand side over the last few years – is that they will win comfortably," said Botham. "We didn’t come close to them in the World Cup and I don’t see that changing much in this series.
"It’s a young England side, and this New Zealand team are extremely good at this format of the game. It’s not a downer on England, it’s just a matter of fact.
"After levelling the Test series, the Black Caps will be completely fired up. They are used to winning in one-day cricket, so it will be very hard for England."
We were pathetic in our selections in the Caribbean, overly protective and overly defensive. Now we have the opportunity to move forward.
After their failings at the World Cup, England are set to field an inexperienced side full of promising talent, including the likes of Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Adil Rashid, and Botham is backing them to impress.
"I expect to see three or four England players making serious impressions in this series," he said. "These players are young and they will benefit from playing against such a good New Zealand side.
"We were pathetic in our selections in the Caribbean, overly protective and overly defensive. Now we have the opportunity to move forward – these kids will have a go and we will see what they’ve got."
In their three-Test tour of the West Indies in April and May, England overlooked Rashid, instead chosing to play 33-year-old James Tredwell, and Moeen Ali.
The Yorkshire all-rounder is the only spinner in England's ODI squad though and so will finally get a run out in this series.
"Rashid is a player I’d have liked to see playing in the Caribbean in the Test match arena," Botham added. "It is never quite as easy when you come in for one-day cricket, especially against such a good New Zealand side.
"It will be a real test of his fibre. After this series, we will have a better idea of how good a player Rashid is. And I know the selectors are looking in his direction in their search for a spinner.
Watch the first ODI between England and New Zealand at Edbaston, live from 1.30pm on Tuesday on Sky Sports 2 (channel 403).
