Graeme Swann still the trump card against Australia in Ashes: Bob Willis

Former England fast bowler and now commentator Bob Willis believes that off-spinner Graeme Swann remains England’s trump card against the Australians in the two Ashes Tests to be played at Melbourne and Sydney.

“True, he had a tough time in Perth and was effectively hit out of the attack. But Melbourne will not be like that and I fully expect him to come back with a bang. Graeme Swann can rediscover his spark on the more spin-friendly pitches of Melbourne and Sydney,” Willis wrote in an article for The Independent.

“While this Ashes series has been blown wide open by events at the WACA, I still believe England have a trump card in Graeme Swann,” Willis added.

“Clearly, there are a lot of lessons for Andrew Strauss's team to learn from their heavy defeat in the third Test. But the best thing they can do this week is try to dismiss that match from their minds because there is not another pitch in world cricket like the one they encountered at the WACA,” Willis said.

Stating that England must think positively about this match and the remaining two.

“Swann can be the star turn in these last two matches - certainly at Sydney and quite likely at Melbourne as well,” Willis said.

He added: “I'm sticking with my original prediction of the Ashes being retained with a 2-2 scoreline. I just hope, for the sake of fingernails and pulse rates, that England have their two in the bag by the time they leave the MCG.

“Swann will relish that challenge, and I believe, he is up to meeting it because he has not become the best spin bowler in the world through a fluke or two,” Willis concluded.