Graeme Swann and England Test Team. (Photo source: X)
Former England cricketer Graeme Swann believes the upcoming Test series against India will serve as a warm-up for the Ashes for England. The home team is set to face India in a five-match Test series, beginning on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.
Swann acknowledged that India have dominated England in recent encounters but emphasized that it is likely England will crush them on their home turf this time. England concluded their 2023–25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle in fifth place, with 11 wins from 22 matches.
“It’s got to be the perfect warm up for the Ashes to be honest. India is a huge series. The last two or three times, we’ve gone to India and we’ve been thoroughly outplayed. So, in our own backyard, our home turf we need to beat India. We need to play well,” Swann said.
Swann conceded that the India series would provide England’s inexperienced bowling unit with a valuable opportunity to find their rhythm. He pointed out the absence of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and stated that England should look to exploit the conditions and target a 4-1 series win, or at the very least, a 3-2 victory.
“They are not gonna have Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, they are two absolute superstars of the bat. So, without that yes they have got great players coming in instead, but we’ve got bowlers who exploit our conditions well and bowl really well. I think England must look to win this series, and I think they should look to win it convincingly as well. I would take 4-1, but 3-2 at a push, but I really hope we do well and get the confidence moving into the Ashes,” Swann concluded.
England last won the Ashes with a 3-2 series victory at home in 2015 and have not won a single Test match in Australia since 2011.
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