Swann regards England the team he would hate to play against

Cape Town, Jan 9(ANI): England spinner Graeme Swann has said that his teammates Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Graham Onions showed incredible defiance in the third Test against South Africa to earn a brilliant draw with nine wickets down.

Swann said that on the basis of current form England is the sort of team, which he would hate to play against, as they are a determined bunch of players.

"I've played for many teams over the years when we looked like losing, so we've played a few shots to get it over quickly and have a night on the sauce. With people like Colly in the team, that is never going to happen with England. He batted for 188 balls for 40 runs - that's ridiculous," The Sun quoted Swann, as saying.

"Colly was saying, 'How are TV going to make highlights out of that?' He thrives in those situations and it's very reassuring when you're sitting on the balcony and look up from your newspaper and realise he is still there. You need a JCB to shift him, he added.

Talking about Bell, Swann said that he looked composed at the crease and his performance will silence his critics.

"Belly was brilliant, too. I'm taking 100 per cent credit because he is my batting buddy. spoke to him at lunch and tea and told him his balance looked good and his left elbow was in the right place. He has plenty of detractors and boo-boys, who say he can't play under pressure. But, he must have silenced them now because he batted for almost five hours under intense pressure," Swann said.

While for his old friend Onions, he said: "I felt strangely calm and good old Bunny did his stuff again. It was magic and, incredibly, a virtual carbon copy of Centurion as we lost a bunch of late wickets." (ANI)