Down the Swanny: England pine for spin past as Aussies close in on Ashes glory

England were left pining for the days of Graeme Swann as a lack of spin bowling options saw them dragged to the brink of Ashes defeat in Adelaide.

- RORY DOLLARD

Swann retired midway through another drubbing down under in 2013-14 but the tourists would give anything for a bowler of his calibre after their failure to adequately fill the role bit them hard in the third Test.

He finished with 255 Test scalps at under 30 apiece, as well an economy rate of less than three an over, the kind of numbers that would have helped them keep Australia in check as they built up an impregnable position on day three of the third Test.

Instead, they saw their rivals run up a huge lead of 356 with six wickets still in hand and two days to force their way to an unassailable 3-0 scoreline.

With Jack Leach and Liam Dawson jettisoned by the selectors and the out-of-form Shoaib Bashir yet to feature despite travelling as the nominated first-choice, batting all-rounder Will Jacks has been asked to fill in on Australia’s most friendly turning surface with modest results.