Graeme Swann eyes Sydney win
While the English squad is rejoicing after retaining the Ashes, there is unfinished business to take care of as they prepare for the final Test match of a highly rewarding series.
The fifth Test starts at another historic Australian venue- the Sydney Cricket Ground. One of England’s stars of the campaign, off-spinner Graeme Swann said that although the squad celebrated a lot on the night of the Melbourne win, yet
full celebrations were put on hold to focus on playing the final match.
Swann added that there was no hangover as the squad was concentrating on winning the series 3-1. He added that the English team knows very well that the wounded Australians would hit back at them very hard.
"On one hand there is a whole pile of pressure on them because it is a New Year's Test match and they will be shaking like big dogs, but on the other hand coming in for your first game can be the best time you ever play because you don't
know what it is all about," Swann said. "You've not got the pressure on your back ... You have to hope it goes the first way as you don't want two people on debut and one getting a five-for and the other a hundred.”
The amiable spinner has already made solid contributions in the two matches that England won in Australia.
He has so far taken 13 wickets in the series with 9 of them coming in two wins at Adelaide and Melbourne. However, the final Test match would be a different ball game for him as the wicket is expected to spin as it has done so in the past.
"You always look forward to bowling on pitches renowned for spin, but that can bring pressure as well if people expect it to turn square like Sydney did 15 years ago," he said. "I'm reliably informed by people in Australia that it doesn't
turn like it used to, but it will offer some assistance later on in the game."
The Sydney wicket might have lost its spite in recent years yet it still has enough in it to encourage top-quality spinners. Even in the Test match held in January 2010, the Aussies fashioned out a dramatic victory on the fourth day through
an inspired spell of spin bowling by Nathan Hauritz.
The win against Pakistan was one of the greatest of the Australian Test history as they were blown away for 127 runs in their first innings on the first day of the match in overcast conditions.
Pakistan had the match in their grip before imploding spectacularly on the last day of the match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 performed well in the second Australian innings with his 4 wickets for 117 runs and hence Swann would be encouraged with the state of the wicket.
Despite the Ashes loss, a big crowd is expected to turn up at the venue and support Michael Clarke’s men in their bid of regaining their lost pride.
The Aussies have a Herculean task ahead of themselves especially after regular captain Ricky Ponting was ruled out of the match due to a finger injury sustained during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s lone win of the series in Perth.
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