Age will be no barrier to Ashes success, says Swann

Graeme Swann insists England’s thirtysomething generation are still a few years short of their Ashes pension, even if injury niggles have increasingly become an occupational hazard.
Graeme Swann and James AndersonGraeme Swann and James Anderson
Graeme Swann and James Anderson

Swann, 34, and James Anderson both gave upbeat bulletins from within the tourists’ camp on the injury scares which beset Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior in England’s four-day match against Australia A in Hobart.

Wicketkeeper Prior is yet to have a scan on his tight left calf, while the results of Pietersen’s tests will probably be known tomorrow and he, in addition, has had a cortisone injection in his problem right knee.

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Both may yet be fit for England’s final warm-up match in Sydney on Wednesday and the first Test in Brisbane eight days later, which should be Pietersen’s 100th.

Swann concedes nonetheless – with at least seven of England’s most likely line-up for the Gabba aged 30 or above – that it is a fact of life that their bodies are more vulnerable to wear and tear than was once the case.

The off-spinner himself missed last winter’s Test series in New Zealand to have another bout of surgery on his bowling elbow; Pietersen had to sit out the final match of that tour in Auckland, then the Indian Premier League, the return series, one-day internationals at home to the Kiwis and the Champions Trophy with the same injury which resurfaced in Tasmania.

England’s management are careful, meanwhile, to monitor the workload of their 31-year-old pace linchpin Anderson.

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“I don’t think we need to worry about the age of the team – I think I’m the oldest,” said Swann.

“It’s not like we’re all pushing the boundaries. If the oldest player is that age, it’s not like you’re all ready for the Home Guard yet.”

Even so, he concedes physical frailties are starting to emerge.

Swann said: “Obviously, I’ve got my elbow that keeps rearing its head every now and then, so that’s something I have to work on. Kev’s got his leg issues.

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“It is natural progression of time. As you get older, your body doesn’t respond to as much work as well.

“That’s why you don’t see too many international sportsmen in their 40s – at least performing at the top of their game.

“It is something we’ve got to be aware of, got to stay on top of.”

Swann is reassured by the presence in Alastair Cook’s squad of young players such as Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

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The latter, of course, may find himself pressed unexpectedly into service in Sydney should Prior fail to recover in time.

“We’ve got to make sure we’ve always got the likes of Bairstow and Root coming through, to become those senior players of the future,” Swann said.

“I think we’ve got an exciting blend of youth and experience at the minute. That’s one of the reasons why I’m confident going into this Ashes series.

“Most players, especially older guys, tend to carry niggles all the time. But they don’t like to let anybody know about them, they keep them to themselves.

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“These are just ongoing injury things that most players have and, luckily, if you’ve got an ongoing thing you know how to manage it, how to treat it.”

Swann was speaking on Sunday at the launch of his and Anderson’s 2013-14 Ashes diaries – an online partnership which captured the public imagination during England’s famous series win Down Under three years ago and is sponsored by Yorkshire Tea.

English cricket’s most recognisable comedy duo will be entertaining on and off the pitch again this winter, but Swann knows which is the most important element.

He said: “The biggest message is we’re desperate to play as well as we did on that last Ashes tour here.

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“If we do play as well as that, I can’t see any team touching us.

“That was probably the perfect performance from us for at least four of the Test matches.

“So we’ll be aiming to chase that same level (of performance)this time round.”

To that end, the fitness of Pietersen and Prior – two pivotal performers for England – is paramount.

The medical checks are still ongoing, it seems.

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Swann, however, said: “There were some very slight concerns last night but we woke up to very good news this morning.

“Kev’s had an injection and should be fit for Wednesday, and Matty Prior as well – he’ll bounce back and be ready in a couple of days.

“Luckily it’s happened to two of the fittest members of the squad.

“Even though they’re two of the older guys, they’re two of the guys who keep themselves in the best nick, so they’ll bounce back in no time.”

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Pietersen has also relayed reassuring measages about his well-being.

After diverting to Melbourne for his scan and jab, while his team-mates flew direct from Hobart to Sydney, he spelled out to his Twitter followers that all is well.

Coach Andy Flower revealed both Pietersen and Prior’s injury concerns on Saturday. But even before he had rejoined the squad, the 33-year-old batsman tweeted: “I AM FINE” followed by the hashtag ‘relax’.

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