Swann calls on England to finish off India this morning
SPINNER Graeme Swann relished taking centre stage at last as England moved to within seven wickets of completing a 4-0 series whitewash of India at The Oval.
Swann (right) claimed two wickets after England enforced the follow-on, to add to his three from India’s first innings, as the tourists ended the fourth day on 129-3, 162 runs behind the hosts.
Rahul Dravid’s 146 not out provided some resistance as India made 300 in an innings for the first time in the series. And Swann urged his colleagues to hit the ground running this morning as they aim to wrap up a 4-0 triumph with another resounding victory.
“I was fairly happy with the way I bowled. My body is aching like it hasn’t all summer, but it’s a nice ache,” said Swann. “It excites me, especially after you play a whole season on belting batting and seaming wickets. It is nice to get a spinning wicket. We need to make inroads in the morning. We’ve got 20 overs where the ball will talk a lot.”
It is a belated starring role for Swann, who has seen James Anderson and Stuart Broad dominate England’s bowling attack throughout the series.