Sir Ian Botham has insisted that England can record back-to-back whitewashes against Australia over the next few months.

This summer's Ashes series begins at Trent Bridge on Wednesday and after five Tests in England, Alastair Cook's side will travel to Australia in the winter for the reverse series.

Despite Darren Lehmann's recent appointment as head coach, Botham believes that England are too good for Australia and that a 10-0 aggregate score is possible.

"I haven't seen anything to remotely make me feel as though I need to change my initial prediction of a double 5-0," wrote Botham in his Daily Mirror column. "There is simply no department in which I think Australia have got an edge over England.

"They have gone for a coach who understands the game deeply, but perhaps more importantly understands the cogs of Australian cricket inside out and the players will respond to him. But he cannot wave a magic wand and turn this Australian team into world beaters."

Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur, who was sacked following Australia's disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy.