Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has expressed that pacer Brydon Carse could potentially 'surprise a few' during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, marking Carse's debut in this historic rivalry. Speaking in Melbourne, Botham suggested that Australian batsmen should brace themselves for a barrage of short deliveries throughout the series. He advised the fast bowlers that if the Australians are struggling with their batting, they would not appreciate the ball targeting their ribs.

Botham reminisced about the West Indies' strategy of deploying four fast bowlers during their 1979/80 tour of Australia, where they triumphed in the Test series 2-0. He stated, 'The West Indies excelled with four pace bowlers and had six more ready to step in. An aggressive approach is essential; the ball needs to come through quickly. If players are not in form, they dislike the ball being directed at their ribs, which will be intriguing to observe.'

He added, 'I’m not sure if they can rattle the Australians; these players have extensive experience. The goal is not to unsettle them but to focus on winning. England has its ups and downs, but they aim to secure victories.'

Regarding Brydon Carse, who is 30 years old and has played nine Tests, Botham described him as a 'very aggressive bowler' who also contributes with the bat. 'Carse might catch some off guard; he bowls with enough pace to keep batsmen on their toes and can bat decently too,' Botham remarked.

He continued, 'Carse is a talented cricketer. While everyone is focused on Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, I believe Carse will make a quiet yet impactful entry into the series.'

Botham shared his views on the Australian batting order, suggesting that the longer they delay announcing Usman Khawaja's opening partner—between Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald—the better it would be for the English bowlers.

'I’m sure they have already decided who will play; they might just be keeping it under wraps for now. It’s crucial to have stable players at the top of the order. Personally, I wouldn’t position Labuschagne as an opener; I’d prefer to keep him at number three,' he stated.

The Ashes series in Australia is set to commence on November 21 in Perth, with Steve Smith captaining the team in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is sidelined due to a back injury. England is aiming to clinch their first Ashes series victory in Australia since 2011 and their first overall since 2015.

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.