NEW DELHI: Former England spinner Graeme Swann has stirred up controversy ahead of the much-anticipated five-Test series between India and England, calling the clash a “perfect warm-up for the Ashes.” His comments, which were meant to galvanise Ben Stokes’s side, have instead drawn widespread criticism from fans and pundits who see them as a disrespectful downplay of India’s stature in world cricket.Set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, the series marks England’s return to Test action after a lacklustre World Test Championship campaign. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Swann suggested the home series could serve as a confidence builder for England before their trip Down Under later this year. However, critics argue that treating a heavyweight encounter against India, ranked among the top Test sides, as mere preparation for the Ashes reflects a narrow and outdated mindset.“It’s kind of a perfect warm-up for the Ashes series. India is a huge series,” Swann told Sky Sports Cricket.“Last 2-3 times, we have gone to India, and we were thoroughly outplayed. So, in our own backyard, our home turf, we need to beat India. We need to play well.“They don’t have Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, their two superstars with the bat. Yes, they’ve got great players coming up instead, but we’ve got bowlers who exploit our conditions well. England must look to win this series. I will take 4-1, 3-2 at best. I hope we do well and get the confidence moving into the Ashes.”Following these comments, Swann faced heavy backlash on social media.India, under Shubman Gill’s leadership, have arrived in Leeds with a potent mix of emerging and experienced players. Young pacer Harshit Rana has been added to the squad, further bolstering India’s pace attack. Having previously represented India A, Rana is expected to be a valuable asset on English pitches.
The Indian team had a brief tune-up in the form of an intra-squad game against India A, offering key players like KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal some much-needed match practice.As the first Test approaches, Swann’s comments continue to spark debate. For many, it’s a stark reminder of how English cricket, at times, clings to its Ashes-centric worldview, often to the detriment of appreciating world-class contests like India vs England.
