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Swann eager to atone

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Graeme Swann (Gallo)
Graeme Swann (Gallo)

Chennai - Graeme Swann is eager to atone for his foul-mouthed rant during England's defeat by Bangladesh when they face the West Indies in a must-win Cricket World Cup match in Chennai.

England need to beat the Caribbean side on Thursday if they are to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals and at the same time hope other results go their way.

Swann was caught swearing on air during England's two-wicket loss to Bangladesh on Friday after he became frustrated at being unable to grip the ball properly while bowling because of the late evening dew.

The defeat was the second time in the tournament that England have lost a match they were expected to win after their shock defeat to non-Test nation Ireland.

But in a roller-coaster tournament, England have also tied with co-hosts India and beaten a highly fancied South Africa side.

"If you're completely taking out of the game a facet such as spin bowling, personally I don't see the point of playing day-night cricket in a dew area," Swann said on Monday as he recalled his Bangladesh outburst.

"It's obviously something that's disappointing, what happened, and I'm a bit ashamed about my own behaviour," said Swann, fined 10 percent of his match fee.

Conditions are likely to be far more suited to Swann's liking at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

"I hope the wicket is similar to the South African one, because I loved bowling on that. If I could roll it up and take it around the world with me, I happily would," said Swann, who took 1-29 against the Proteas.

The 31-year-old was at a loss to explain how the bulk of a side that romped to a 3-1 Ashes Test series win in Australia in January was proving so inconsistent in the 50-over format.

"We're just not managing to put both facets of our game together at the minute. That's something we nailed down pretty well in the Test match arena over the last 18 months.

"In one-dayers, we're still searching for that magical elixir."

Kevin Pietersen, whose World Cup was cut short by a hernia injury, has slammed the team's "ridiculous" schedule, saying England's prospects of winning the trophy for the first time had been hit by their hectic schedule.

However, Swann said England were not alone in having to cope with the demands of a relentless schedule.

"It's just the way it falls. The World Cup is always after the toughest (northern hemisphere) winter for us. But it's no excuse. It certainly isn't the reason we're not playing well -- because we're all fit.

"If we win four games now, we win the World Cup -- which is the only way we can look at it.

"It's four games, and we could take home the spoils and shut a few people up who've been knocking us back."

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