Graeme Swann insists England have nothing to fear from Australia paceman Mitchell Starc – but Joe Root has a huge role to play in keeping the tourists positive
ALTHOUGH Graeme Swann made his name as a canny spinner, he is no stranger to the art of fast bowling.
Swann was on the receiving end of Mitchell Johnson’s firepower during the last Ashes Down Under when he retired mid-series as England were routed 5-0.
The current crop of Aussie quicks, is led by Mitchell Starc.
But Swann told SunSport their bowling prowess has been hyped leading up to the First Test in Brisbane.
He said: “Australia have lost their best fast bowler in James Pattinson.
“Starc can get it through all right but he’s not as quick as Mitchell Johnson used to be.
“Josh Hazlewood is not quick. Pat Cummins doesn’t stay fit for more than two or three games.
“People are more worried about Australia’s bowlers than the England team are.
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“They’re thinking ‘hallelujah Pattinson is injured, it’s a massive boost for England.’ ”
However, BT Sport pundit Swann still accepts England captain Joe Root has a vital role in preparing his men before battle.
He added: “There are loads of things that could trip them up but the trick for England is not to think about them.
“It’s a very English way of thinking, ‘What’s the one thing that will mess this up?’ Why think that?
“Like ‘What if there’s a monsoon the day before?’ It’s crazy talk.
“Everything will go perfectly. That’s what England should be instilling in their players.
Test cricket is 90 per cent in the head.
"Yes, you have to be playing well but if you can get everyone in a Zen calm, you’ll be great.
“That sort of thing can win you any sporting contest.
Any golfer with the perfect Zen will win on that final stretch at The Masters.”
Swann played in three Ashes series. There was the catastrophic 2013-14 whitewash but he also played in the victorious 3-1 win in Australia in 2010-11. And he urged Root ’n Co to play with no fear — no matter what the fired-up David Warner has in store for them.
He said: “It’s the biggest thing for an England player because it’s all you’ve ever dreamed of.
“The Ashes does mean more than a normal Test series. Everyone will say otherwise but it’s not true.
“I used to respond with ‘of course it is — I’ve been thinking about this for two years’.
"But you have to treat it like a club game. The occasion is just nice to look back on. If you play the occasion you’re screwed.”
Despite that and Warner’s pre-Ashes “war” chat, Swann insisted the sledging is never too bad.
He said: “I’ve never been involved in an Ashes series that got nasty on the field. It’s all made to be a bigger thing than it really is. The teams never get on badly.
“Famously the whole of Australia was apparently on Stuart Broad’s back for not walking but not a single Australian player said a word.
One or two players will try to make it aggressive because they believe in the stereotypes — those players will be obvious in the game.
“But most people will just realise it is all rubbish and get on with it.”
Swann aims to enjoy this tour and said: “All I’ve seen of Australia is the inside of hotel rooms and cricket grounds. This time, I may actually get to see this beautiful Australia I’ve always heard about.”
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