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This article was first published 12 years ago

Indian spinners have bowled well in the ODI series: Swann

Last updated on: September 16, 2011 09:30 IST

Image: Graeme Swann
England off-spinner Graeme Swann has said that Indian spinners have bowled well in the ongoing one-day series against the hosts, and said the local media was being harsh in writing the Indian bowlers off.

He also said that what the Indian cricketers did with their time away from the game was their business, and added that with tours nowadays being long and hard, cricketers had a right to take time off from the sport and find other ways to relax their bodies and minds.

Addressing the press at Cardiff, Swann said: "I don't know. It's up to India to decide what they do with their practice time. I know from being on tour that tours are very long and hard, sometimes a day away from cricket can be as beneficial as going through the motions and training.

"So, whatever India decides to do, I'm sure it's for the best."

'Ashwin was exceptional at the Oval and at Lord's'

Image: Graeme Swann

I think it's a little harsh. I think the Indian spinners have bowled well in this one-day series.

"I think Jadeja, since he's come in, has bowled very well and Ashwin was exceptional at the Oval and at Lord's. So, they're certainly two players that we look at as a batting unit, and work very hard on combating, because we know that if we take them lightly, then we'll come a cropper," he added.

Swann has been asked to captain the country in the T20 series against West Indies beginning later this month in the wake of incumbent skipper Stuart Broad's injury.

And 32-year-old the off-spinner has admitted that he must grow up and stop acting the joker.

'I'll have to be more grown up and mature about things'

Image: Graeme Swann

Swann has been appointed despite his claim that he is too immature and too much of a comedian to take on the responsibility of leadership.

"It's a Twenty20 series with a lot of young lads so I'll have to change the way I am from the Test side.

"I'm very much the joker in the Test team, I'm there for a stupid quip at the end of the session," the Sun quoted Swann, as saying.

"With this Twenty20 side, I'll naturally have to be more grown up and mature about things. But I don't intend to be deadly serious and change too much. I believe a fairly high-spirited approach has made me the cricketer I am," he added.

The 32-year-old will lead the national team for the first time in the two Twenty20s, which are scheduled for September 23 and 25 at The Oval.