CHESTER-LE-STREET: Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann has told Eoin Morgan’s men to maintain their ‘courageous’ approach to one-day cricket and rid themselves of a fear of failure once and for all.

Swann was severely critical of England’s build-up to this year’s World Cup and his fears were proved correct as the side suffered an embarrassing first-round exit, having failed to beat a single rival Test nation.

But a revamped team, still captained by former Ireland batsman Morgan, have changed tack in stunning fashion during their ongoing one-day series against New Zealand.

They head into Saturday’s finale of a five-match series at Durham’s Chester-le-Street ground all square at 2-2 with the World Cup finalists.

More than the raw results, the way England have played has been the greatest possible contrast to their World Cup debacle in Australia and New Zealand.

Swann has been impressed. “It’s so refreshing because it is like they have held their hands up and said ‘you’ve all got a point’,” explained Swann, speaking at an event for charity Chance to Shine, which promotes cricket in British schools.

“Everyone knew it was the most obvious thing in the world we were playing an outmoded, outdated form of the game,” said Swann.

“But (there was) the arrogance that saw us stick to our guns and say ‘everyone is wrong’ — and in that World Cup I think England got justifiably vilified, because they were so stuck in their ways.”

Swann warned England against reverting back to their old ways should results go against them.

“It will take courage to stick to it,” he said. “But they should take what New Zealand have done as a blueprint.

“There is no way on God’s green earth we have a worse talent pool than any other country in the world — we’ve got these players who, if unleashed and given free rein, can be incredible one-day players.”

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2015

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