Aussies fear our pace attack - Botham

Ian Botham claims Australia will be wracked by fear at the prospect of facing England's pace attack in the Ashes.

The legendary all-rounder also believes England's decision to make Andrew Flintoff captain for the tour, rather than Andrew Strauss, will have sent shockwaves through the Australia squad.

"I expect England to retain the Ashes this winter because our four-pronged pace attack will haunt Australia as much as they were unsettled in 2005," Botham told the Daily Mirror. "I can't see how Australia's batsmen will be any better equipped to deal with Freddie Flintoff's fab four quick bowlers this time round."

England's outstanding fast bowling paved the way for Ashes glory last year, with Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Flintoff proving destructive.

This time England will tour without Jones, whose knee injury sidelines him until next season, but the remainder of the attack remains intact, with Sajid Mahmood and James Anderson vying for the role of fourth seamer.

Botham, 50, added: "For me, if Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Sajid Mahmood stay fit and hunt as a pack, the Ashes stay where they belong. Right here."

Botham argued that Australia "must slay the demons" of their Ashes defeat, but predicted that with Flintoff at the helm England would be daunting opponents.

"I notice Ricky Ponting was surprised by Flintoff's appointment as captain, which means the Aussies would have preferred to see Andrew Strauss get the job," said Botham.

"That's no reflection on Strauss, who did a terrific job against Pakistan this summer, but chairman of selectors David Graveney was right when he said the Aussies fear Freddie."