The Ashes: Graeme Swann seeks Mallett's help to turn fortunes

Published: Dec 05, 2013, 01:06 IST | AFP

Graeme Swann has linked up with former Australian Test spinner Ashley Mallett in an effort to lift his fortunes and bowl England to a series-levelling victory in Adelaide, reports said Wednesday.

Swann, 34, met Mallett on Tuesday, two days before the second Test starts, to get tips on what he needs to do to achieve success at the Adelaide Oval.

Mallett and the English spinner have a long-standing relationship stretching back to 2001 when they held one-on-one sessions while a young Swann was in Adelaide with an England academy team.

They keep in regular contact and took the opportunity to catch up in the lead-up to Thursday's Test. "We just had a chat about bowling, generally," Mallett told Fairfax Media.

Adelaide-based Mallett revealed he told his protege he had given Australia's left-handers too much room outside off-stump in the first Brisbane Test.

Mallett believes a ''more attacking line outside off-stump turning into the right-handers'' is required in Adelaide due to less bounce on offer. ''Swann will do that,'' he told Fairfax.

"You still have to get the ball up above the eyes and dip it. It's a bit (of a) different surface. I reckon you'll see more top-spin from him this game,'' he added.

Swann struggled at the Gabba, taking two wickets for 215 runs but his seven wickets were a major factor in England's innings victory over Australia in Adelaide three years ago.

Mallett has an intimate knowledge of Adelaide conditions and has taken more wickets than any other finger-spinner (off-spinner) at the Test venue, with 25 victims in six games from 1971-80.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Australia had been clever in stacking their batting with right-handers as Swann prefers bowling to left-handers where he can turn the ball away from the bat.

''The Aussies have counteracted that with a good selection policy and they've attacked him, which is the right message to send to the England team,'' Vaughan said.



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