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Swann plays down effect of Pakistan series on Ashes

Second Test, Edgbaston: England v Pakistan
Dates: 6-10 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave and online; Live text commentary, daily reports and scorecard on BBC Sport website and mobiles; also live on Sky Sports with daily highlights on Five

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Pakistan series irrelevant to Ashes - Swann

England's Graeme Swann has targeted a 4-0 series whitewash against Pakistan, but insists it will count for little when it comes to this winter's Ashes.

England go into this week's second Test with a 1-0 advantage having thrashed Pakistan by 354 runs at Trent Bridge.

But Swann said: "It won't matter what happens this summer come Brisbane [for the first Ashes Test on 25 November].

"It is a completely different series over there. This series is about this series, and winning 4-0 hopefully."

Pakistan were unable to cope with the swing of James Anderson, who took a career-best 11-71 at Trent Bridge to help put his side ahead in the four-match series.

Finn focuses on further improvement

"All we can do, and it may sound a cliche, is keep on winning games trying to get some momentum building up to Australia for our own confidence levels," Swann said.

"Whoever we played, they'd have had to play very well to counteract the swing bowling of James Anderson, they were quite unlucky to find us in good form with the ball.

"It's what we hoped to do but you don't always hit your straps like Jimmy did. We're delighted but we need to make sure here at Edgbaston we're equally on fire."

Stuart Broad took eight wickets for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire in a recent Championship match and Swann said: "If conditions suit, in England we are a very good bowling attack.

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"If the rain and clouds stay around for five days I can't see why we won't be equally hard to bat against."

Referring to concerns about Anderson and Broad's effectiveness on the traditionally less responsive pitches down under Swann said: "We'll re-assess come Australia.

"The ball might swing there more than people know, the pitches might suit us more than people are giving us credit for.

"Our fast bowlers are very skilful. They are always developing and learning. I'm sure they'll be fine come Brisbane."

Such was the dominance of England's swing and seam bowlers, Swann was required to bowl only two overs in the entire first Test.

Asif wants Pakistan's stars to shine

"It was nice just to have the best view in the house, just sit on an armchair at slip and watch it," said the 31-year-old, who took the winning catch to dismiss Mohammad Asif off the bowling of Anderson.

"If I get a couple of wickets in this game, I'll be perfectly happy. But if it went exactly the same as the other one, it wouldn't bother me much - because it means we're 2-0 up.

"I'm not saying that all phoney - like 'as long as the team wins, I'm happy'. I am inherently lazy, so if I didn't have to do anything for three-and-a-half days apart from watching my mates do the work so be it."



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see also
Strauss backs Pietersen and Cook
05 Aug 10 |  England
Jonathan Agnew column
05 Aug 10 |  England
England dominate hapless Pakistan
06 Aug 10 |  England
England unchanged for second Test
02 Aug 10 |  England
Strauss wants consistent England
01 Aug 10 |  England
Ruthless England wrap up victory
01 Aug 10 |  England
Pakistan in England 2010
07 Sep 10 |  Cricket
Live cricket on the BBC
26 Oct 11 |  Cricket


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