Ian Botham today warned that cricket corruption must be stamped out now - or someone will be killed.

The England legend said a player or umpire risks being murdered as match-fixing and cheating threatens the once noble game to its knees.

Botham also claimed that stars were still being offered up to £250,000 to get out to bankroll huge Asian betting rackets.

The former England skipper said: "Match-fixing has to be sorted out.

"Someone will be assassinated. Anyone who falls foul.

"I still think it's there. I don't believe it's gone away and it won't go away because of the amount of money involved - whatever your wildest dream, times it by a thousand and then you'll be nearer.

"There are reports and rumours, and they've come from extremely good sources, that as much as one billion US dollars can change hands at a Test match so don't believe some of these figures that players are meant to be involved for, a few thousand here and a few thousand there.

"The ones who are in are in for a lot more than that."

The all-time great's new book, Ian Botham's Definitive Guide to The Ashes, is published by EMP PLC. It goes on sale from Friday and costs £2.95.