England getting in a spin

Graeme Swann, second right, has been named in the 12-man squad to face India in the third one-day international in Kanpur.

KANPUR // England's Graeme Swann looks likely to play in the third one-day international against India after the off-spinner was named in a 12-man squad. However, left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom's hopes of returning to the side for today's contest were dented after he underwent a scan for a back problem, having just recovered from an Achilles injury that kept him out of the first two games.

India lead the seven-match series 2-0 after impressive wins fashioned by Yuvraj Singh's back-to-back hundreds. Swann, 29, played a useful role in last year's one-day series victory in Sri Lanka, claiming seven wickets in four matches. "Because I haven't played in the first two games, I'm in quite a unique position and should I get in the XI, which I hope to do, I can walk out as if it is a fresh series," Swann said.

"The series in Sri Lanka last year was a five-match series. That is a good length series for a spin bowler. You don't get too tired and don't get worked out by the batsmen." All-rounder Ravi Bopara, one of the players who could make way for Swann, did not attend nets due to a stomach upset. England paceman Stuart Broad was cautioned by the ICC match referee after appearing to question umpire Russell Tiffin's decision to rule a bouncer as wide in Monday's second game.

"The umpire felt it was borderline to showing dissent and with him being a young lad I thought it best to have him in for a talk and nip it in the bud," referee Roshan Mahanama said on the England Cricket Board website. For the hosts, young paceman Ishant Sharma bowled in the nets, having missed the first two games due to an ankle problem. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that it still had to be decided whether he would play.

Yuvraj is in line to become only the fourth player to score three consecutive one-day hundreds, after scoring 138 not out and 118 in the last two games. Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar and South African Herschelle Gibbs have achieved the feat. "Hopefuly he will be doing it," Dhoni said. "One thing about Yuvi is, when he gets going he is among the best." * Reuters