Swann hopes for Anderson's recovery

“I honestly didn’t know he was injured until he told me this morning he’s not going to play,” Swann pointed out here on Tuesday. “Jimmy seemed fine to me and I’m sure it’s just a bit of stiffness. I’m sure once he gets running around, he’ll want to play. I know Jimmy, when he’s doing well, he’s hungry for the ball and he just wants to keep going. It’s when he’s not doing so well he’s more than happy for a week off,” the off-spinner remarked.

While maintaining that Anderson’s absence will be a huge loss, Swann said England had enough bowlers in the reserve to step up to the plate. “I think (if he doesn’t play) he would be a huge loss, like any of the seamers. But we thought that with (Chris) Tremlett when he couldn’t play at Trent Bridge, and up stepped Bressie (Tim Bresnan) and he’s been unbelievable in the two games he’s played. We have got vast stocks of fast bowlers at the minute. I’m not sure where they’ve all come from, but it’s nice for us they have all arrived at the same time,” the off-spinner thought.

According to Swann, England will have to work harder and plan better to stay on top for a prolonged period of time. “As a team we've got to No.1 in the world and I'm sure when we sit down and talk about it in a few weeks time, it's going to be about how we can stay there for as long as we can. I'd be very surprised if it was anything but that,” he noted.

As England travel to Asia during winter, Swann’s role will be crucial in conditions that favour the spinners. “The next big challenge for me is these games in the winter,” he pointed out.

“But for me I just look at the next few series and think how I am going to play a significant part and keep my job. I want to keep playing for England for as long as I can.

“So I'll be looking at these Abu Dhabi and Dubai games and then Sri Lanka and thinking, ‘right how can I help us win in the sub-continent and win in the Middle East.’ They're the sort of tours we need to prove we can win and win well to stay No.1,” he elaborated.