Swann shines as Eng cruise to Ashes warm-up win

England’s Graeme Swann was the shining light in a predictable win on Wednesday over injury-hit county side Essex in their final warm-up match before the first Ashes Test with Australia next week.

Swann, who gave England an injury scare after being hit on the arm during the match at Chelmsford, took 5-68 in 20 impressive overs as Essex, chasing an improbable 415 to win, were bowled out for 186.
The four-day challenge match had been stripped of its first class status after Essex’s main bowlers, David Masters and Tymal Mills, were both injured and county academy player Aaron Beard, 15, was called on to field.

England skipper Alastair Cook (82) and Jonathan Trott (79) managed some runs in the second innings when the standard of the bowling was poor.

Meanwhile, in Australia’s final pre-Ashes game against Worcestershire, opener Nick Compton, who was left out of the Chelmsford match in favour of Joe Root, scored a battling 79. Compton, playing as a guest for Worcestershire, hit 10 fours in his second high-scoring innings against the tourists, having already scored 81 for his county side Somerset when the teams met last month.

Australia themselves are fighting for form and stability after sacking coach Mickey Arthur at the end of June and replacing him with Darren Lehmann. Lehmann also caused a surprise by announcing on Monday that 35-year-old Chris Rogers would open Australia’s innings with Shane Watson when the first Test gets underway at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on July 10. In reply to Worcestershire’s 278, Australia were 83/2 in their second innings after 22 overs. Skipper Michael Clarke (5*) joined P Hughes (16) at the crease.