Ian Botham says replacing 'under-fire' Cook will improve England's chances at WC

Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has stated that replacing under fire captain Alastair Cook would improve England's chances of performing better in the World Cup, although it won't automatically mean they would win it.

Botham said that England would set off on a brave new adventure in 2015 in Australia, but added that unless they make some tough decisions and play to their potential it would simply be another World Cup deja vu.

The all-rounder claimed that the less said about the last five World Cup campaigns the better, so he added that the chance is there to do something special.

In his column for The Mirror, Botham further said that even if England doesn't win the trophy they could still give them all something to cheer and get excited about, and he added that if the squad gets to the quarterfinals, which he feels they should, anything can happen.

According to the former England Test star, the question though is whether the selectors want to make a tough job even tougher.

Botham stated that replacing Cook as captain won't automatically mean England would win the tournament but he feels that it should improve their chances.

He said that they would find out in a couple of days whether they have decided to stick with a man so wretchedly out of form that he needed four lives to reach 32 on Tuesday against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka drubbed England 5-2 in the seven-match ODI series with Cook failing to impress on the field again.

Botham said that if the selectors don't remove Cook then, as the skipper said in his own words, he can have no complaints, because it would be a cricketing decision based on what they have all seen in the last two years.

Botham added that if they do, it would be a gamble, and one that he hopes would pay off. He said that he wants to see England teams winning and doing well, whoever they choose.