Nottinghamshire spinner Graeme Swann has demanded more of himself and the England team ahead of the second npower Ashes Test beginning at Lord’s on Thursday.
Swann is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up alongside county colleague Stuart Broad but Ryan Sidebottom will play for Notts against Durham following the call up of Steve Harmison.
“Truth be told, we didn’t play well in the game either batting or bowling,” said Swann.
“We fielded OK but that’s not enough to win a Test match and we have to pull our finger out this week at Lord’s.”
England salvaged a draw in the series opener at Cardiff, relying on tail enders Monty Panesar and James Anderson to take the game beyond the cut off time.
Swann batted well, adding 31 to his unbeaten first innings knock of 47, but failed to take a wicket in his first taste of Test cricket against Australia.
“The ball didn’t come out of my hand as I wanted it to and I didn’t have the rhythm I wanted but we have to take positives and the fact that we didn’t lose the match with Australia in such a commanding position has to work well for us,” said Swann.
“They Had the whole day to take eight wickets on a fifth day pitch and they couldn’t manage it and that’s a huge bonus for us and they’ll be asking how they couldn’t do that.
“It’s the same as any Test. Once your playing it’s a case of bat against ball. The crowds are bigger and there’s some great banter but I didn’t perform how I wanted to with the ball but I’m going into this game confident that it’s going to happen as I want.”
CRICKET’S PERFECT SPECTACLE
ENGLAND RETURN IN 2025
SECURE YOUR SEATS