Legacies on the line for Stokes and Root - Botham

'THEY MUST SUCCEED IN AUSTRALIA TO SEAL THEIR PLACE AMONGST ELITE'

- By RORY DOLLARD

Ian Botham won eight Tests and two Ashes series on Australian soil

LORD Botham has told Ben Stokes and Joe Root they must find success in Australia to seal their status as all-time greats.

Root is already the second highest run-scorer in Test history and Stokes is a double World Cup winner responsible for some of the most remarkable individual performances the country has seen.

But neither has tasted victory Down Under, with Root winless in 15 matches and his skipper having nothing to show from 10 attempts. With both men now 34, the next few weeks could be their final chance to fill a notable gap on otherwise glittering CVs.