Swann confident England can clip soaring Gul’s wings

England are confident they can still have the Twenty20 mastery of Umar Gul – on the way to a 2-1 series victory over Pakistan.

Gul ended England’s hopes in Thursday’s first match of three at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where his three for 18 included the wicket of top-scorer Ravi Bopara and then two in two balls in his final over.

The upshot was an England defeat by eight runs, in pursuit of a barely-par 144. Renowned as one of the world’s toughest opponents in the shortest format, Gul’s expertise with reverse-swing and inch-perfect yorkers scuppered England when it seemed they had put themselves in a winning position. Even so, confidence is intact in the ranks that the world champions – and number one-ranked team – can get on top of Gul again, starting back at the same venue today.

As Graeme Swann pointed out, England certainly did just that on the way to a 4-0 one-day international series whitewash of Pakistan – in which Gul took one for 155 in 22 overs, before catching a cold and missing the final fixture.

“He bowled very well, but in some of the one-dayers we really got after him,” said Swann, who believes cricket’s narrow margins are never more so than in its shortest format.

“Twenty20 is one of those games – it proved that way for me last night. I got three wickets for hardly any runs. On another day it could have been none for 40 or none for 50.”

Gul bowled Bopara round his legs with a searing yorker, deceived Jos Buttler with a change of pace as the England hopeful’s trademark chip shot over short fine-leg went awry, and then pinned Samit Patel lbw with another dead-eyed toe-crusher.

Swann kept out the hat-trick ball, before the run chase became too much for him and Jonny Bairstow. But he added: “We know we can get after Umar Gul. He bowled exceptionally well last night. But I’m sure, in the next couple of games, our batsmen will step up to the plate and do that.”

The problem for England, and Pakistan for that matter, was that – despite a string of batsmen who made double-figures – no one could reach even 40.

“We always talk about the guys who get in going on to finish the game,” added Swann. That’s the same in any format – it’s always easier for the guys who are in. We’ve a couple of guys who are in very good form, and they got 30s last night where on another day, they could easily have been match-winning 60s or 70s. I’m sure that’ll happen next time.”

Swann has no doubt, in fact, that England will be roused to protect their number one status today and then to finish their mixed tour on a high on Monday.

He added: “We’ve just beaten these guys 4-0 in the ODI series, so confidence is still sky high.”