GRAEME SWANN IS SPIN CONTROL

GRAEME SWANN is adamant England can tangle Australia in a web of spin this summer to regain The Ashes.

For years it was the guile and genius of Shane Warne that bred fear into England's batsmen.But now Swann is hoping he can help turn the tables, especially if England go for a two-pronged spin attack.

Off spinner Swann is joined by left-armer Monty Panesar and young pretender Adil Rashid in the initial Ashes squad.

And the rare prospect of England going into a home Test series with tandem spinners excites Swann, who admitted: "I'd love it if we go into each game with two spinners.

"I realise it's fairly alien for England to have two spinners - and obviously we'll have to wait to see what the pitches are like - but I'd relish the prospect of bowling in tandem with Monty.

"In Trinidad at the end of the winter tour of the West Indies we bowled together and it went pretty well - hopefully it was a sign of things to come. If we bowl together well in the right conditions we can turn the game."

You have to go back to the days of John Emburey and Phil Edmonds in 1986-87 when two spinners last helped England win an Ashes Test. And it was that pair who inspired Swann to become a spinner.

He reflected: "I grew up watching Emburey and Edmonds. They got me into spin - but of course all of us have been in awe of Shane Warne over the last 15 years or so."

And when the series begins in Cardiff on Thursday week, Swann has the chance to prove English spinners can take centre stage in the post-Warne era.

Swann added: "I'll be really hyped up in the dressing room before the start. There will be butterflies. This is a massive series for all us players. I can't wait to get stuck into them.

"To beat Australia this summer it will be down to three or four really good performances, whether it be with the bat or the ball. Some one will have to do something special.

"It can be one spell of bowling that changes things. It might be just five or six overs from Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad or hopefully me to pick up the two key wickets you are after.

"I'd love it if I can be that man. I'd love it even more if it was me and Monty."

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