Botham enjoys Oz spat

“Oh, yes, I’ve heard all about Warnie and Ricky Ponting and I’m loving every second of it,” Botham told The Sunday Telegraph. “That is turmoil, and the more turmoil Australia are in, the better it is for us. It’s great when the Aussies start whingeing among themselves. I don’t blame Warnie for what he said and I don’t blame Ricky for his reaction. But something obviously isn’t right down there for it to happen in the first place,” Botham added.

Warne had questioned Ponting’s fields for Nathan Hauritz during the Bangalore Test, and Ponting hit back immediately.

Botham said he could not believe there were knives thrown at the Australian captain before the start of the Ashes. “If someone feels like they’re making a constructive point that he feels is right, he’s entitled to his opinion.”