England to win the cricket World Cup? Not happening, reckons recently retired off-spinner Graeme Swann.
The England side have never put their hands around one-day cricket's most coveted trophy. They have been in three finals — in 1979, 1987 and 1992 — but, they have never managed to clear the final hurdle. In the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year Swann does not give them any chance at all.
"We won't win this World Cup," BBC Sport quoted the outspoken former spinner.
Swann is of the opinion that unless his former side does away with their present style of playing one-day cricket they will not stand a chance in next year's World Cup.
"I used to sit in the changing room and always felt we were so far behind other teams because we play such an old-fashioned brand," he reckoned.
He added that the present ODI squad does not have the right players who could perhaps win England the World Cup.
"[Alastair] Cook, [Ian] Bell and [Gary] Ballance are not players who will win you a World Cup," he pointed out.
Cook, who is the skipper of the England team, should in fact call it quits in one day cricket, according to Swann.
Michael Vaughan, former England skipper too echoed Swann's viewpoint although he does not feel that Cook should retire from one-day international cricket. Vaughan hinted at Cook being given rest in one-dayers due to the immense workload.
"By taking on the one-day job and captaining the side all winter, going into a huge year of Test match cricket. I think he will be absolutely drained," said the former England skipper.
Swann was of the opinion that limted overs cricket should be left to the younger players, as their style of play is more suited to the shorter formats.
"James Vince, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler. They are players I wouldn't want to bowl at. Players who could potentially get you 360-370 on the board," he said.
Swann also felt openerAlex Hales, who was finally called up to the team for the ODI series against India, should play more of a role in England's one-day outfit and in fact should have been in the side a lot earlier.
"Hales should have been in this side for two or three years," he pointed out.
Ravi Bopara's should remain a part of the one-day side, according to Vaughan, who appeared befuddled by Bopara's exclusion for the India series.
"Ravi could probably be considered - in the last 18 months at least - England's best one-day cricketer. He's played 108 games and, to think we're so close to a World Cup and we're throwing away all that experience and know-how. I'd be amazed if he wasn't back in for the World Cup," Vaughan added.
