With the final group of players arriving in Perth just two weeks before the first Test on November 21, England will face the Lions on Thursday in their sole preparation match before the series begins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s not the way I would prepare,\u201d he said, speaking in Melbourne on Tuesday to announce a ticket ballot for the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG in 2027.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
During the 2021 Ashes, England played two intra-squad games in Brisbane, while the 2017 tour featured four matches against local teams \u2014 yet they failed to win a Test in either series. Despite shorter build-ups becoming common under Brendan McCullum, Botham recently said this tour\u2019s limited schedule \u201cborders on arrogance\u201d.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHistorically, you have to acclimatise when you come down here,\u201d he said on Tuesday. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to remember there\u2019s twenty four and a half million people you\u2019re playing against.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Australia\u2019s population nearing 28 million, only one player will earn the chance to open alongside Usman Khawaja. Botham insisted that Marnus Labuschagne shouldn\u2019t be that choice, but stressed that whoever the selectors pick \u2014 or may already have picked \u2014 needs to be informed well in advance to prepare properly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe longer they keep the other lad knowing who\u2019s going to be opening will work in favour of the bowlers,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need to settle players at the top, and I\u2019d leave (Labuschagne) at three.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former Australia captain Greg Chappell feels selectors should go for the specialist opener to partner Khawaja at the top.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI hope the powers that be know who their first-choice opener alongside Khawaja is because I think it\u2019s an important role, it always has been an important role,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Specialist opener Jake Weatherald has earned a place in Australia\u2019s squad but has yet to be confirmed in the playing XI for the Perth Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chief selector George Bailey recently suggested that No. 3 batters, including Marnus Labuschagne, have the \u201cability\u201d to step up as openers \u2014 a view Ian Chappell openly challenged.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Specialist opener Jake Weatherald has earned a place in Australia\u2019s squad but has yet to be confirmed in the playing XI for the Perth Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of, well, \u2018we\u2019ll pick our No 3 batsman to go and open\u2019 because Ian [Chappell] batted No 3 for Australia, Ricky Pointing batted No 3 for Australia, I\u2019m not sure they would have been as good as openers because it wasn\u2019t their passion to open the batting,\u201d Chappell added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n