England legend expected Australia bashing in Ashes
England legend expected Australia bashing in Ashes
Former England off-spinner isn’t surprised that England got
mauled by the Aussies. The legendary off-spinner expected exactly the same
after he realized that all-rounder Ben Stokes wasn’t called up for the Ashes.
Swann was particularly critical of the senior players Joe
Root and Alaistair, who have had a series to forget thus far. He took the
opportunity to laud the new guns Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan, who have shown
grit for the Three Lions in this Ashes.
“The senior guys who you expect to stand up and outshine the
rookies have done the exact opposite. Joe Root and Alastair Cook have done next
to nothing," Swann told BBC.
"The shining lights have been Rocky (Mark) Stoneman and
Dawid Malan.
Swann wasn’t all gloomy about England’s fortunes in this
Ashes. He saw the positives and was “proud” of some of the players for the
fight that they showed, before stressing that being 3-0 down was something he
envisaged once he knew Stokes wasn’t going to fly to Australia.
“I‘m proud of the way some of the guys have played. Dawid
Malan was sensational, James Vince was only dismissed by the best ball I’ve
ever seen in a game. There are positives, I expected to be 3-0 down after three
games once Stokes wasn’t coming.”
“England do have a settled side if Ben Stokes is around but
when he’s not, this team came over very weak,” he added.
With England 3-0 down with two more games down, there is a good chance that they will get whitewashed by the end of the series, something that wouldn’t surprise many after the way the Aussies have played thus far.
