Graeme Swann fired up by Saeed Ajmal new 'mystery ball' claim
by Dean Wilson, Sunday Mirror 15/01/2012
by Dean Wilson, Sunday Mirror 15/01/2012
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| Graeme Swann (Pic: Getty) |
GRAEME SWANN has laughed off Saeed Ajmal’s claim to have a new ‘mystery ball’ as nothing more than bluster and bravado.
Ajmal might be a handy off-spinner, but his pre-Test boast that he has developed a special delivery for the England batsmen has been shrugged off as nothing more than the same mind games that Shane Warne used to play.
And after hearing claims about the new ‘teesra’, which simply means the third one, Swann reckons if it makes an appearance this week it will be just as much a surprise to Ajmal as to everyone else.
The England twirler, currently ranked the No.1 spinner in the world, has frankly laughed his old mate out of class and has other ideas for those who think the Pakistani will have the run of the Dubai turf.
“It was only going to be a matter of time before someone took on Warney’s mantle,” chuckled Swann. “I’m looking forward to seeing it as I’m sure he is!
“Let’s face it as an off spinner you can have a ball that goes one way and one that goes the other and one that goes straight on.
“If someone has managed to invent one that goes underground or over the batsman’s head after pitching then fair play. I’ll happily be called a showman but I don’t think I have the bluster and the bravado that you need to be able to pull off the claims of a mystery ball.”
What is for sure is that Swann and Ajmal will be key to their side’s chances of success in a desert dust bowl not too dissimilar from what the Pakistan players grew up playing on.
They might not be allowed to play at home anymore, but Pakistan are a formidable outfit in these conditions and they will play at least two spinners. England are likely to stick with Swann as their only spinner despite the impressive display of Monty Panesar in the warm up games, and he is revelling being a key part in the world’s best team
He said: “I should be getting a lot of work out here. It’s obviously hot and the seamers can’t do the job they do in England — because it’s just not the same conditions.
“Obviously the hunters have become the hunted now. And I think it’s an interesting challenge.
“It’s something that we’ve got to relish because we’ve worked so hard to be the No.1 we can’t just go, ‘Oh I wish we were No.2 again’. The pressure would be off then.
“I think it does add an extra dimension of pressure, but one we should thrive on and enjoy.
“I’m sure Man United have always been happy being the team being chased in England.
“That’s the way we’ve got to see it. We’ve got to revel in being No.1 and try and stay there for a decade or so.”
england , graeme swann , pakistan , saeed ajmal
Source: Mirror
