England’s Graeme Swann looks forward to The Ashes Series
England has not lost a Test series for the last one and a half year. Last time they lost a Test series was in the Caribbean in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 2009.
Australia in September 2009 beat England in the ODI series, since then they have never lost an ODI series.
This has been by far the best English side, if we consider the last decade or so. They have won their last 5 ODI series. They have beaten Australia, South Africa, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 twice and now Pakistan.
They are now unbeaten in their last 6 Test series. This includes, The Ashes series win, a home and an away series win against Bangladesh, a home series win against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, and a stamping series victory against Pakistan. The reign also includes a drawn
series against the South Africans in their own backyard.
The ODI series win against Pakistan ended a very successful English summer. In all, they have won 6 series in all formats. It started with a Test series win against the Bangladeshi’s, followed up with the delight of beating the number 1 side in the world,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. They beat Bangladesh afterwards, in the ODI series.
The tour was followed by some crushing victories against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. A Test series win, a T20 whitewash, and a thrilling ODI series win was enough to stamp their authority, and to gain some confidence.
England, in the Caribbean, earlier this year made history by winning the ICC World T20. This was their first major ICC based tournament. Previously, they had qualified for the finals of World Cup and the ICC Champions trophy. They fell short in 1979, 1987
and 1992 World Cup final. West Indies, the underdogs in the tournament crushed their hope in a heart breaking ICC Champions trophy final in 2004.
If the credit of England’s recent success could be given to a single person, in all forms of the game, it would definitely be Graeme Swann.
It all started on the South African tour of 2009/10. South Africa is considered to be the best side in the world, by many cricketing experts. England drew in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. Graeme Swann picked up 21 wickets, at an average of 31 in four Test matches. Since,
then he has never looked back.
Since January 2009 he has been the best English bowler on view. He has pretty compelling statistics in all three formats of the game, in terms of consistency and brilliance. He has an amazing tally of 105 wickets in 22 Test matches at an average of almost
25.
In the middle over in an ODI innings Swann poses a great threat. His 41 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 22 with an economy rate fewer than four and a half is clear evidence of this statement.
Twenty 20 format has brought the best out of Swann. They say his bowling is more suited to Test and ODI cricket but his Twenty 20 cricket figures tell a different story. He has gathered 25 wickets in 17 matches at a remarkable average of 14 with an economy
rate of 6.45 runs in an over.
England will be touring Down Under this November to defend their Ashes title. England has not won a Test series in Australia, since 1987. Mike Gatting led his team to victory against Allan Border’s Australia that time. Can the history of 1987 repeat itself?
The last time England was hammered in a 5-0 whitewash by the invincible Australians, but now Australia is not what it used to be.
Graeme Swann has a point to prove. He has numbers to improve against Australia. He has played 5 Test matches against them, and has taken 14 wickets at an average of 40. So he will eye the Australian tour to make his name in the Ashes Legends.
He remains an integral part of England’s Ashes campaign. If the off-spinner continues his form in Australia, then England has a chance of repeating the history of 1987.
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