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London: England off-spinner Graeme Swann has said there is no need for knee jerk reactions in the wake of the Leeds defeat against the Australians, and urged England selectors to retain faith in both Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell in next week's Ashes decider.
In an article for The Sun, Swann said: "The worst thing England can do is panic in response to one bad performance at Headingley and all the pressure from the pundits. We know we were bad in the fourth Test, the game was a bit of a nightmare, to be honest, and we must take the medicine of a defeat by an innings and 80 runs."
"But we're still 1-1 with one to play and most people would have taken that situation at the start of the series. And, I firmly believe we can take some momentum from the fun and frolics of the partnership between Stuart Broad and myself on Sunday when we put on 108 in 12.3 overs," he added.
"I genuinely believe that one bad game doesn't make a bad player. Sure, numbers three, four and five didn't contribute too much but Ravi, Belly and Paul Collingwood are talented and classy players. Ravi showed just how much he has to offer with those three centuries in three innings against West Indies earlier this summer. He has displayed glimpses of that against the Aussies and I am sure the good pitch at The Oval will suit Ravi and he'll come out flying," Swann said.
Swann said that Bopara's decision to play for Essex against Middlesex this week in the county championship was a right decision.
"That will give him the chance to get some runs under his belt. Belly looked in prime form at Edgbaston in the Third Test and Colly saved the First Test at Cardiff virtually on his own just a few short weeks ago. People will call for change. It's probably inevitable after a defeat. But you must remember that we won at Lord's only two games ago and everyone was ecstatic then. All sorts of names have been brought up but I don't think there should be changes," said Swann.
"We still fancy our chances of winning the series," he concludes.
