Graeme Swann out, James Anderson in
During the first T20 match between Australia and England at Adelaide, Graeme Swann bruised his knee and hadn’t played for his team since then.
The quality right arm off spinner was expected to return in the last part of the ODI series but he has recently picked up a back strain and has been ruled out of the remaining One Dayers as well. He is going to fly home to recover for the upcoming World
Cup.
Swann is the premier spin bowling option for Strauss and some great cricketing minds rate him as the best spinner in Test cricket after the retirement of the great Mutiah Muralitharan.
Though his status as ‘The Best’ is still doubtful but there is absolutely no doubt that he is a world-class spinner. Swann is also a very handy lower order batsman and has the ability to score quick runs lower down the order.
On turning pitches he is the trump card of English bowling and is a major component of England’s bowling attack.
England have had a prolific run in Tests as well as ODIs in the last 10 months or so and after the convincing win in Ashes they were slowly but surely hoping to creep up on the ICC rankings.
They had defeated http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 3-2 in the Natwest series in 2010 and Swann made his presence felt with eight wickets in the series, the most by any spinner, at an average of 20 and a bit.
But the post Ashes run has been nothing but woeful.
England have lost all three matches played so far in the Commonwealth Bank ODI Series and needs to go unbeaten in the four matches left to have some respite.
Much is being said about the spinner-friendly tracks in the Sub-continent, which gives more weight to Swann’s fitness in the World Cup.
Too much cricket and home sickness is taking its toll on a tired and timid and English side and in such a situation Swann’s injury is a blessing in disguise as the master spinner gets the much needed rest before the mega event.
Michael Yardy is a good support bowler but his performance without Swann has slumped and suffered as he hasn’t been able to make an impression on the youngster- James Tredwell (Swann’s replacement)-as the senior spinner.
Though Swann’s absence makes things no better for his captain and coach in the ongoing series, it’s not that high a price to pay for a fully fit and fresh Graeme Swann in the event that matters the most.
Tim Bresnan also flew home earlier in the series with a torn calf muscle
Though England have lost their key spinner for the series, James Anderson, the spearhead of the English bowling attack, has returned to the team and seems resolute to make a difference in the rest of the matches.
James Anderson believes that his return in the team will definitely lead to a shift in momentum and insists that the team’s attitude is still positive and one win is all that’s standing in their way.
Anderson has been a key performer for the team in the Ashes but has been absent in the T20s and ODIs.
The bowling performance of a second choice England attack in the One Day series has been satisfactory. Anderson’s return will strengthen the bowling department even further, but it is England’s batting that is lacking in form and consistency, which makes
the case even stronger for fatigue.
Travelling for more than three months, the signs of physical and mental struggle are starting to show on the dressing room but the approach of a fresh player is evident from Anderson’s attitude and despite all odds is ready to face the challenge head-on.
What England needs from James Anderson is a match-winning performance that could lift the team spirits to a new high but the question is, will one man’s self-belief be enough for 10 more on the field?
Tags: