Swann stays focused

Graeme Swann is adamant that the forthcoming series is as important as any other

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Graeme Swann claims England cannot think about the riches on offer in the Stanford 20/20 match before they have first improved their form in the forthcoming one-day series against South Africa.

The Nottinghamshire off-spinner was one of a number of players in England’s NatWest Series squad hoping to make an impression in tomorrow’s Twenty20 international at Chester-le-Street.

But heavy rain in the north-east forced match referee Roshan Mahanama to consult Durham officials before calling the game off with 24 hours to go after witnessing the saturated outfield at the Riverside.

It was England’s last competitive Twenty20 match before they embark for Antigua and face Stanford’s Superstars in a match which will earn each player US$1million if they are successful on November 1.

For players like Swann, part of whose family are from the north-east, it was his last opportunity to push forward his claims, having featured in England’s last three Twenty20 internationals.

Yet, despite the riches on offer, Swann believes it would be dangerous to start thinking too far ahead before they have measured themselves against South Africa in Kevin Pietersen’s first series as official one-day captain.

“I’m not sure how the selection policy for that Twenty20 match is going to go, but it’s a no-brainer that the guys who perform well in the one-day series are probably going to be heavily involved in that Antigua thing,” Swann said.

“We’ve got five games now against South Africa and, more importantly, everyone will be looking to win this series. It’s very important we put in some good performances given the way the New Zealand series finished.”

England’s series defeat against New Zealand earlier this summer took their recent record to just five wins out of the last 15 one-day internationals against major opposition.

Swann admits his thoughts have drifted towards the riches on offer in November's Stanford 20/20

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New captain Pietersen has stated he wants more consistency from the one-day side and, although Antigua is an obvious distraction, Swann is confident the squad will remain focused on trying to overcome South Africa in the coming weeks.

“You can’t go into a one-day series with your eyes on the game that’s in six weeks time,” he stressed. “This series is as important a one-day series as any that England play in.

“It’s Kev’s first as captain and everyone wants to make a good impression after the way the New Zealand series finished, and there’s no better way to play one of the best teams in the world than on your own turf.

“If we can put in some consistent performances we could provide an upset and that would be a perfect way to set us up for the winter.”

Swann does admit he has let his mind wander occasionally to the thought of earning around £300,000 after tax for four hours’ work, but admitted he would probably squander it anyway.

“I’m the world’s worst person with money,” he added. “If I get 300 grand after tax I’d just waste it - buy a bright pink Ferrari or something like that.

Swann’s Nottinghamshire team-mate Ryan Sidebottom passed a fitness test on his injured hip and will rejoin the rest of the squad for training at Headingley Carnegie on Thursday prior to the opening match of the one-day series the following day.