Swann urges mates against panic by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	GP Swann, A Flintoff
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 20th July 2009

 

Graeme Swann has asked his teammates to be cool as England strive for victory in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord's.

 

The hosts were taken aback by an Australian fightback on the fourth evening, after having reduced them to 128 for five.

 

An unbeaten hundred from Michael Clarke and 80 not out from Brad Haddin sent Australia into the fifth morning on 313 for five, leaving them with 209 runs to get to seal a world-record chase.

 

The off-spinner though retained confidence in England knocking over the five remaining Australian batsmen.

 

"I am English," said Swann. "We get nervous about anything: your football team can be 4-0 up at half-time and you daren't watch the second half.

 

"It will be a great day's cricket, it wouldn't be the Ashes if it wasn't like that, and I am glad these first two Test matches are living up to 2005 because the worst thing for me would be to play in my first Ashes series and it be a load of rubbish.

 

"For Australia to win this game they will have to break a world record - that's a very tough ask.

 

"They are in a much better position than they could have been but with a new ball and everyone fit and firing we have a chance for wickets because the first session is when they tend to tumble.

 

"We are going into the day very comfortable, it is still a mountain of runs for Australia to climb but they are in a much better position than they could have been.

 

"We were on cloud nine at one point, having them five wickets down, but you expect a good partnership at some stage on a good pitch, which is what it still is out there."

 

When the new ball became available, Strauss called his troops together on the field and they had a team talk.

 

Swann, who was off the field receiving treatment for a cut finger at the time, said that he assumes that was nothing but a rallying cry.

 

"I can only assume it was a rallying cry. That we were getting the new ball and let's make it count.

 

"I can understand how some people could view it negatively but I don't see it that way at all."

 

The English team is bogged by injuries but Swann played down those concerns.

 

"We have one of the quickest bowlers in the world flying down the hill.

 

"He runs up and bowls so fast and so heavy, no-one wants to face him.

 

"It is a massive boon we have him bowling for us because I wouldn't want to face him. Ever again!

 

"Every time he goes off the field and comes back on, you think 'is that going to be the end of him?' and he bowls at 95 miles per hour again.

 

"KP had a stiff back but he came back out because he is desperate to be out there with all the boys.

 

"As far as we are concerned there are no problems there with injury."