Swann delights in England's dominance
England spinner Graeme Swann says he sometimes can't believe that the team he plays for is so successful against Australia, given the Aussies' past dominance during the Ashes and Tests in general.
England spinner Graeme Swann says he sometimes can't believe that the team he plays for is so successful against Australia, given the Aussies' past dominance during the Ashes and Tests in general.
England won the most recent Ashes three-nil, their third in a row, which comes as a stark contrast to the 1990's when Australia won eight Ashes series in a row. Swann feels proud to be part of the current side and often find it strange to think about how times have changed.
Swann, who took 26 wickets in the Ashes earlier this year, said: "Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I'm playing in an era like this. Australia seemed almost invincible when I was growing up, and you knew it was going to be 3-0 or 4-1 when the Ashes came round.
"We had some good players in those days but as a young cricketer you never really aspired to win it. To be playing in an era in which we have won three in a row, I sometimes find hard to believe."
England are on the brink of winning four Ashes in a row for the first time since 1890, but Swann says that while they're aware of this, it's not a motivating factor in the build-up to the return leg in Australia.
He continued: "The important thing is to go out and win things and if that rewrites the record books then that's great. As a team we don't play thinking about records and history.
"Of course you want to leave a legacy and the more you win the better that legacy will become. If we can win this series then we will be the red-hot favourites when the Ashes come home again."
Swann added of their 'favourites' tag, being one of the few players to relish the idea: "Maybe there is some complacency (among fans) but if we're expected to beat them then that's a good sign.
"We are going out there with the score at 0-0 and we are certainly not taking anything for granted but if we are going as favourites then it is much better than going there as the underdogs."
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