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England willpower to win this series, by Ian Botham says

Ian Botham says England will power
to win this series

Famous all-rounder Ian Botham feels in spite of India being the world's number one Test side, England would go on to win the continuing series as they have more youthful and lively players in their ranks as compared to the visitors.

"I believe England willpower to win this series because in my judgment they are already the best team in the world and this summer will only confirm it. They are the approaching force in world cricket and unlike India, who have a lot of players in their twilight years, this is a young, lively England with more power to add," Ian Botham wrote in his article for the 'Mirror'.

However, Ian Botham admitted that no substance how much he needs England to win the Test series, he would like to watch a number of quality cricket by some of the biggest names in the world cricket, together with Sachin Tendulkar.

"This is the 2,000th Test match of all occasion. Statistics don't thrill me -- people and performance are what matter, so if Sachin tendulkar  gets to 100 hundreds at Lord's I'll be applauding him, not because of the numbers but because he is a huge player, a immense man and a big ambassador for the game," said the previous cricketer.

England willpower to win this series, by Ian Botham says

"The thing I look forward to most when I turn up for comments duty is an England win, but a close second comes high excellence cricket from high superiority players.

"So I determination walk from side to side the gates at Lord's knowing I'm certain at least one of those things because Sachin tendulkar name will be on the team sheet," he further.

Remembering the times he had played against the Indian batting legend, Ian Botham wrote, "18 years following I stop specialized cricket, Sachin tendulkar is the only man left on the international circuit that I played against.

Can sachin will do 100th
century against England

"Sachin Tendulkar ct Stewart b Ian Botham 35, and it was a beauty if I keep in mind rightly, back in 1992 throughout the World Cup."

Stating that he has "not anything but admiration and deference for Sachin tendulkar ", 55-year-old Englishman insisted, "If you would have told me then that this little young man would still be playing in 2011, having just won the World Cup and be on the brink of success his 100th international hundred, I would have thought you were mad.                                     

"But then Sachin Tendulkar doesn't deal in the common. He has batted and batted his way into the record books and he has done it with the method and polish off the field under powerful pressure that no-one could match -- certainly not me."

England willpower to win this series, by Ian Botham says

Ian Botham thought there could be no improved role model than Sachin Tendulkar for the potential cricketers.

"He is an all-time gigantic of the game, whose love and excitement for cricket is supreme. If ever there was a role model to be had for a young cricketer, then Sachin Tendulkar is it."

"This guy is a occurrence and if I were the England team I would not feel any superior about the fact that his highest score at Lord’s 34 runs. If anything, that would make me experience worse. He will be completely focused on receiving to his 100th hundred, and there is no place in the world that he would somewhat reach the familiar sight than Lord’s, “Ian Botham thought.

"It would be a dream, a fairy story for him if he were to make it there. The only trouble for England is that he has a practice of having them come true, and when Sachin Tendulkar is on song there is very little you be capable of do," he further.

Botham, however, hoped that English bowlers could succeed in stopping the legendary batsman from reaching the much-awaited milestone.

"As much of a fan as I am of his, I do think our bowlers can succeed in checking his progress," he said, adding that James Anderson and Chris Tremlett are expected to do their best.

"James Anderson and Chris Tremlett are forming the most potent opening attack in the game to rival Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

"Behind them is the best spinner in the world in Graeme Swann and alongside him should be the ever improving and impressive Tim Bresnan," said Botham.