Swann wants 'justice in the last game'

England are not celebrating their No status yet, and are focused to finish the series on a winning note.

Powered by automated translation

Graeme Swann, the England spin bowler, said his team will focus on completing a 4-0 whitewash of India at The Oval this week, before thinking about their impending elevation to the top of the world rankings.

England will be confirmed as the best Test side in the world when the series ends, but Swann believes it is important to concentrate on rounding off a fine summer with another victory against the demoralised tourists.

"It's a nice feeling [being a part of the top-ranked side], but it's not what we are focusing on," he said. "We said before the series it didn't matter if we got to No 1 in the world. It's about finishing the series well and that is what we are aiming to do at The Oval

"We want to do ourselves justice in the last game - we did that very well in the Ashes. Having retained them we gave our best performance of the series in Sydney in the last game and we are looking to emulate that here.

"It's the last Test match for a while and it's a good chance for us to sign off on a winning note.

"We have played some exceptional cricket in the last 18-24 months and it would be a shame if we ruined it all by cruising through this game, so let's make it a really good five days and see what happens."

He said Andy Flower, the coach, and Andrew Strauss, the captain, would not allow the players to rest on their laurels and just glide through the game.

"They will be keener than ever for us to give 100 per cent," Swann said. "It wouldn't be much of a team if we just fell to pieces and threw it all away."

India have been outplayed in the three matches so far but Swann warned against underestimating them in the final Test before a Twenty20 encounter and five one-day internationals.

He said: "The best thing we have done all series is keep India below 300 each time we have bowled and we need to try and keep that up.

"The Oval is a good batting pitch, but if we can maintain the standards we have so far achieved then hopefully we can do that again."

* Press Association