Swann eyes Australia showdown
30/09/2009 8:27 PM
Graeme Swann is dreaming of facing Australia in the final of the Champions Trophy - a competition England now believes it can win.
Victories over Group B favourites South Africa and Sri Lanka made England's match against New Zealand, which Andrew Strauss' team lost by four wickets, academic.
They will now face either Australia or Pakistan in the first semi-final at Centurion on Friday with serious ambitions of glory.
"It's a strong belief," Swann said.
"Coming into this I don't think anyone had realistic ambitions of us winning but the first two games proved we can and has strengthened belief."
"We don't make the tournament predictions. We knew if we turned up and played decent cricket for two games we would get into the semi-finals and that is what we have done."
Australia thrashed England 6-1 in the recent NatWest Series but Swann claimed a five-wicket haul as a whitewash was averted in the campaign finale at the Riverside.
If England is in the opposite semi-final to Australia, which can happen if Ricky Ponting's side fails to beat Pakistan in its final group game on Wednesday, the prospect of a clash in the final would be tantalising.
"We are on the up against Australia. The last time we played them we hammered them!" Swann joked.
"I would love to face Australia in the final. It's the old enemy and everyone seems to get more interested in those games."