http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graeme-Peter-Swann-c60513 complains about Poms top-order, Admires KP, Bell, Prior
English off-spinner, Graeme Swann, has said that he has never seen a more sluggish top-order than the one http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s team has in Test cricket.
He described that even though he is not an expert observer, he mostly went to sleep while watching http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Jonathan-Leonard-Trott-c63890 at the crease.
Considering the trio as the ‘ugliest' top-order, the off-spinner insisted that Strauss, Cook, and, Trott are the most sluggish batsmen the world has ever produced.
"I'm not a great watcher of cricket, but when Cook and Trott are batting my god I struggle to keep my eyes open. I will always watch KP as well but Cook, Strauss and Trott, if there is an uglier top three in the world I don't know of it", Swann said.
However, the Northampton-born off-spinner, clarified that English side is lucky to have players such as Strauss, Trott, and, Cook, since they are world-class cricketers.
"But they are amazing and I would not change any of it. I wouldn't pay to get in and watch them but I'd happily pay their salaries", the 32-year-old spinner shared.
On the other hand, Swann heaped special praise on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Ronald-Bell-c63974 for their attacking style of batting as they kept on entertaining the crowd throughout their stay at the wicket.
"I adore the fact they love batting and bat all the time but I would happily watch an Ian Bell, or Matt Prior", added the off-spinner.
Strauss has served England in 84 Tests in which he holds a strike rate of a little over-50. Likewise, Cook’s scoring rate is 49.07 in 67 Tests. Trott’s strike rate is worse than Strauss’s and Cook is averaging 48.85 in 20 matches.
Cook came under heavy criticism in the second Test as he batted too sluggishly at a time when the Poms needed to add runs quickly before the declaration.
The third between England and Sri Lanka is due to start on Thursday, June 16, 2011, and Swann is confident about his team’s chances in the match despite acknowledging the fact the islanders will look to roar back to level the series.
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