Thursday 28 October 2010

Swann the key as England bid to retain Ashes down under


Graeme Swann's off-spin can help ENgland retain the Ashes.
England depart for Australia on Friday in exactly the same position they found themselves in 2006, with the little urn in their back pocket.

Andrew Strauss’ side will be looking for a completely different outcome from the 5-0 whitewash they suffered last time they were in Australia.

But what is different about the upcoming tour to the series most England fans like to forget?

Firstly, Australia have lost their generation of great players that saw them dominate the test game for over a decade. 

Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are long since retired and were joined by opening batsmen Justin Langer
and Matthew Haydn on the side-lines. Adam Gilchrist, the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen to have graced the game, also called time on his career.

 This left a huge hole in the Aussie side and captain Ricky Ponting has not got the options at his disposal he once had.

The aura surrounding the great Aussie sides does not circle the current side and it is something England can
take confidence from.

Secondly and most importantly England posses the best spinner in the world.

Much has been made of England and their ability to swing the Kookaburra cricket ball but whatever ball the sides play with Graeme Swann will turn it and cause batsmen prolems.

Swann has had a glorious start to his test career taking 113 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 26.55.

He is ranked number two in the Test bowler rankings and has tormented the Aussies in all forms of the game.


In particular, the Aussie top order has its fair share of left-handers and that is music to Swann’s ears. The off-spinner has an excellent record turning the ball away from the left-handers bat and with the extra bounce on offer on the Australian wickets the Notts bowler will fancy his chances.

With neither side boasting batsmen in the top ten places in the Test rankings it could be said the series will be decided by bowlers.

But with the pitches flat and the Kookaburra ball not doing as much as the Dukes ball when it is older the spinners are going to play a vital role.

This is definitely where England have the advantage.

Australia’s spin options are bare and the number one off-spinner Nathan Hauritz’s record doesn’t match up to Swann. Hauritz’s 63 wickets from 17 matches at 34.98 are not bad statistics but they do not read world-class as Swann’s do.

The England bowler now has the aura the Aussies are lacking and it will play a key part in the five Test series if he doesn’t lose his passport again between now and the flight down under.

If he can avoid injury, any more passport mishaps and any tweeting incidents while on tour England can regain the Ashes in Australia for the first time since 1986..

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