Swann aims to chalk up ‘unbelievable’ clean sweep

Alastair Cook’s team know much hard work still remains if they are to add a one-day international clean sweep to the 5-0 scoreline achieved over the Test series and one-off Twenty20.

But, as Graeme Swann explained on the eve of the third NatWest Series match at The Oval, they are beginning to eye that possibility of beating India at every opportunity and in every version of the international game.

“I hope so,” said the off-spinner, at the prospect of converting a 1-0 lead so far into another unanswered drubbing.

“We’ve played some unbelievable cricket this summer – especially in the Test matches – and you don’t want the one-day series to be a damp squib.”

It will be far from that if England can chalk up their first all-format clean sweep since Twenty20 became part of the international schedule. Swann believes an impressive end to a highly-successful summer is important, however, not just in terms of pure statistics but to ensure England’s limited-overs specialists start to feel part of a winning team too.

“It was like that in 2009 [after the Ashes win when England lost the one-day series 6-1] and, although it didn’t take the polish off for any of the players, I’m sure it did for a few of the people watching.

“It’s important we carry on this momentum we’ve got going and for the guys who haven’t been involved in the Test matches, that they can be part of a successful team as well, because we need all three forms of the game to be going in the right direction in the next two years.”

As for his own adaptability across the formats, England’s off-spinner for all occasions demonstrated his effectiveness again with three important wickets in their surprisingly easy win at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday. Unlike a raft of his pace-bowling team-mates, he simply sticks to whatever he knows best – be it in a Test, Twenty20 or in between.

“I don’t have any silly tricks or trade secrets up my sleeve,” he said. “I just work on being as consistent as I can and having plans to get these guys out – and that doesn’t change. I am a bit long in the tooth to be trying new tricks. I’m happy with what I’ve got. All these new fads are just that – everyone goes back to doing the basics in the end.”

The “carrom” ball, as purveyed by a new generation of international spinners, did make a fleeting appearance in the Swann repertoire. “I can bowl one, but it’s just not very good,” he added. “With my action it’s just the most obvious thing in the world. I got Mark Ramprakash out with one – and then I put it away.”

It will be conventional off-breaks then, from the world’s No 1 slow bowler, with which India must contend in London and then in the series finale in Cardiff. Swann is not expecting it to be easy, as England continue to have to adjust their game plans against tourists barely recognisable – thanks to injuries to eight players – from the Test and 50-over world-beaters.

“We’ve been provided with new challenges because of their high turnover of players, so it doesn’t feel like the same team we played against three or four weeks ago. It feels like we’re still learning about the opposition. So I wouldn’t say we go in thinking ‘We’re going to trounce this lot today’. We go in thinking there’s a game on our hands each time.”

Among those most likely to give England a game is rising star Ajinkya Rahane. He has made two half-centuries in just three attempts at the top of the order since replacing the injured Virender Sehwag.

India are also likely to accommodate newly-available all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in their team tomorrow, probably at the expense of Manoj Tiwary.

For England, Jonathan Trott should be back after being sacrificed in the rain-shortened match in Southampton, with Samit Patel or perhaps Ravi Bopara making way.