I didn’t walk out on England last time!
Sam Pilger finds Graeme Swann ready to talk about the 2013/4 disaster and why the tourists can win the Ashes now
You have toured Australia twice, in 2010 and 2013, how would you compare the different moods in the camps? GS: The moods were influenced by the success we enjoyed on the field. It really was as simple as that. We started winning in 2010, and everyone was happy, and that continues, but three years later it was horrific, with the KP issue and all the things happening behind the scenes. They were very different tours! Why did it go so right in the 2010-11 series?
GS: There was a good feeling around the squad from the very start, including in the warm-up games where we were all very professional. In Brisbane, we made a statement that carried us through the entire series by making that 517-1. The Aussies were shocked, and never really recovered. We went on to win at Adelaide, and though we lost in Perth, we roared back with wins in Melbourne and Sydney. That first day at the MCG when we bowled Australia all out for 98, and then replied with 157-0, was incredible.You looked around the MCG and there were 75,000 Australians who had come in fancy dress as empty seats. It was a joyous time. My message to this year’s team would simply be to score big runs, and success will follow. And then how did it go so wrong three years later when you lost 5-0? GS: In 2013 we had an Achilles heel, a massive problem with facing pace from a left-armer in Mitchell Johnson. We were not honest, because we didn’t have a game plan for Johnson and his type of bowling. It wasn’t as though we weren’t executing our plans, we just didn’t have any. None at all! And so we suffered for it. How much fear did Johnson inspire in you and your England team-mates? GS: I would not say fear, others have talked about that, but I disagree with them. It was more about our inability to play him, because of his angles, and his pace. We had no answers to it. Did you have any sense it would implode like it did in 2013? GS: Alastair Cook was pretty good in keeping the KP issue from the team, so it wasn’t that. We just went five down very easily when we batted, so didn’t give our bowlers much of a chance, even though Jimmy and Broady bowled very well. Johnson was the obvious hero of the series, but their unsung hero was Brad Haddin, who saved their bacon several times with the bat. He would come in at No.7 and score important runs when they were struggling. How difficult was it to retire and walk away during that Ashes series? GS: I was told I had to leave. I had no choice. I didn’t decide to leave. I was not match fit, and couldn’t take part, so I
was told to leave. It was not ideal that it was portrayed by some that I was choosing to leave, but some on social media did that, and besmirched my reputation. That account was believed by some at the time, when it wasn’t true. What is the best piece of advice you can give an England tourist in Australia?
GS: Just enjoy it. Seriously. Don’t buy in to any of the bulls**t. David Warner talking about war is just silly. Enjoy it. Revel in all the hype, and play with a smile on your face. There is nothing better than playing and winning in Australia for an Englishman.
How would you assess England’s chances in this series: Can they win?
GS: You have to remember England are the holders of the Ashes, and so the doom and gloom about this squad has been rather exaggerated, because I know this team is quietly confident they can go to Australia and win. I also think Ben Stokes will be a part of this series. Now the full story is coming out, and we are beginning to get some perspective on the incident, I believe he will go, and with him, England have an even better chance of winning. What do England need to do to win this series? GS: Don’t get me wrong, it will be tricky, but England can win this series. It is crucial they get out of Brisbane with a win, or a draw, which will set them up for the series. Do that and Australia will suddenly be full of doubts. It is also important to score big runs, and allow the bowlers to play their part. Where do England have the main advantage over Australia? GS: England have a lot stronger lower order batting line-up, and that could make the real difference in this series. I really think England have a big
advantage over Australia here. At Nos 6,7,8 and 9, England should have players of the quality of Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali, who can all score a lot of runs, and Australia just can’t compete with that. But are there enough runs in the top order for England?
GS: I don’t know yet, there are still three places to be nailed down. England have two world-class batsmen in Alastair Cook and Joe Root, but it depends how the others get on before we know if England have enough runs up there. Is there any chance England could play two spinners in a Test? GS: No, not at all. It won’t happen. What are your thoughts on Mason Crane?
GS: I have not seen a great deal of him, but I hear good things. He has played grade cricket in Australia, and done well. He knows how to use the Kookaburra ball, so if called upon, he should step up. How do you see the battle of the spinners in this series: Moeen Ali versus Nathan Lyon? GS: At the moment Nathan Lyon is a better bowler, he really believes in himself, but Moeen Ali is a real talent and will make a good contribution. The thing is Ali is the better batsman of the two by a mile, and that will make a big difference. How would you assess Australia’s batting line-up? GS: If you look back at the last 20 years, you would have to say it is one of the weakest line-ups they have had. Beyond David Warner and Steve Smith, there isn’t any real guarantee of runs, so there is a lot of pressure on that pair. If Smith and Warner fail then you have to question where Australia will get their runs. This is an area England really need to exploit. Beyond Smith and Warner, which Australian batsman do you most admire? GS: Usman Khawaja is a class batsman, who can be lovely to watch.You have to be really careful when you bowl to him. But he’s not world-class yet, as he’s only scored his runs in Australia. Which Australian poses the biggest threat to England with the ball? GS: Mitchell Starc has the swing and the pace to trouble England, and then there is Josh Hazlewood, too, who has a different style, but is just as effective at getting wickets. But neither are capable of having a summer like Johnson four years ago. There is a lot of talk about Pat Cummins, but he’s had injuries, and I would be surprised if he managed to play all five Tests over the series. Does the Ashes still retain the same appeal and magic? GS: It is still the best contest in cricket, which is why it has endured for so many years. I love all the history, which is fascinating. When I was a kid I only dreamed of playing against Australia, that was the ultimate, and it remains the same for this generation. The appeal of the Ashes is as strong as ever, but I will say it will lose something if they start playing four-day Tests. How would you explain the rivalry with Australia?
GS: While we are desperate to beat each other, there is actually a lot of affection between the two countries as well. There is no real hatred, it is what I would call a ‘phony’ hatred. No one wants to fight or smash up the other team’s supporters. All the hype comes through the media, and David Warner seems to have bought in to it with that talk about it being like a ‘war’. I hope he deeply regrets saying that. It was a bit stupid to talk like that, because it is just cricket. For both fans and players, it is brilliant to be a part of the Ashes.
The Ashes: It’s All About the Urn by Graeme Swann is published by Hodder & Stoughton and out now
Play with a smile on your face, there is nothing better than playing and winning in Australia for an Englishman