India need to prove its Test status in England: Botham

"India are currently ranked No 1 in the world and they got there by playing some decent cricket, mainly at home. But when you consider that they have only beaten Bangladesh and New Zealand in their last six away trips, then you realise that they have got a bit to prove to people this summer," Bothan wrote in his column for Mirror newspaper.

The battle for Test supremacy begins this summer when world number one India face number three England in a four-match series starting July.

During the tour, India will play four Tests - the first of which starts at Lord's on July 21 - five ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 match.

Botham also showed scant respect to ICC's ranking system, and rated England as the best team in the longer version of the game at present.

"The England Test team is the best in world cricket and they will prove it beyond doubt this summer,

"Forget the rankings designed by men with computers who believe that logarithms can tell us who is playing the best cricket more accurately than we can see with our eyes," the former English captain insisted.