Without Ben Stokes, this England side is very weak: Graeme Swann

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has lashed out at the England unit after they suffered their third straight defeat in the hands of Australia. Steve Smith’s men regained the Ashes after winning the WACA Test by an innings and 41 runs. Swann said that the senior players have done ‘next to nothing’, as they looked clueless in the field against a strong Aussie side.

England were bowled out for mere 218 after posting 400-plus runs on the board in the first innings. Former English skipper Alastair Cook failed to contribute with the bat yet again and he having a poor run down-under. Apart from Dawid Malan, James Vince and Jonny Bairstow, none of the tourists stepped up in the crucial tie.

“England do have a settled side if Ben Stokes is around but when he’s not, this team came over very weak,” Swann told the BBC.

Swann lauds the effort of the youngsters

“The senior guys who you expect to stand up and outshine the rookies have done the exact opposite. Joe Root and Alastair Cook have done next to nothing. The shining lights have been Rocky (Mark) Stoneman and Dawid Malan.”

Swann lauded the effort of Malan and James Vince and said they have been impressive. “I’m proud of the way some of the guys have played. Dawid Malan was sensational, James Vince was only dismissed by the best ball I’ve ever seen in a game. There are positives, I expected to be 3-0 down after three games once Stokes wasn’t coming.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was also unsure about some of the senior men’s future in the side.“England have three legends of the game in Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson,” Vaughan said.

“It depends how they manage their retirements. It’s coming sooner rather than later. I do think they can all play a part in the series of 2019 but you don’t see many fairytales in sport. England have to manage the senior core of the side and make sure that if they are all to go together in 2019 they are playing well enough to be in the team.” he added.