Botham backs Australia, South Africa

England cricket great Ian Botham says he hasn't jumped off India as World Cup favourites on home soil, he simply was never on them.

Botham says Australia and South Africa have the edge at the moment through their bowling strengths.

And the Indian batting icon who often goes to great lengths to defend the national team, Sunil Gavaskar, also could not resist having a crack at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side following their first loss in the tournament, against South Africa.

India lost 9-29 in Nagpur to be bowled out for 296 and South Africa chased down the target in the 50th over.

Dhoni accused some of his batsmen of playing to the crowds who hunger for big shots and lots of boundaries.

Botham said India's batting effort last weekend was sloppy and they should have scored at least 330.

"India should have won that game. But the fact that India again did not bat out the overs shows there are some frailties in that Indian lineup," Botham wrote in his column in The Times of India on Monday.

Botham said Dhoni's attack on his batsmen was fair.

"They are not angels. Dhoni has every right to criticise them," Botham said. "In my book, India were never the favourites for the World Cup.

"This World Cup is about sides that have the bowling to take wickets. "So that makes Australia and South Africa the two most dangerous sides."

While paceman Dale Steyn grabbed a five-wicket haul to guide South Africa to victory against India, Australia's bowlers were less impressive in their side's 60-run win over minnows Kenya on Sunday in Bangalore.

Defending a total of 6-324, Australia could only take six wickets including three run outs as the Africans hit 6-264.

However Australian skipper Ricky Ponting experimented with spinners and will have the option of using his quicks to more telling effect in upcoming matches.

Gavaskar said he couldn't understand why India's batsmen went for the big cross-batted heaves instead of giving the strike to experienced hitter Dhoni.

"India lost the plot there. Unless India learns its lessons very fast the dream could well remain a dream," he warned.