ODI series would be great test for us: Swann

Manchester: England might have a 4-0 Test victory and a twenty20 win under their belt but off-spinner Graeme Swann feels the upcoming five-match ODI series starting on Saturday would be a great test for the hosts.

Swann and co have so far completely outplayed India on the tour and the off-spinner said they will now look to extend their domination in the one-day series as well. "It is a great test for us - hopefully the conditions will suit us and we can pull off a victory. It`s where we want to go in one-day cricket, we want to be an improving team and it`s a good chance to start," Swann told reporters. "We are going to have to be at our absolute best to beat them and we are confident at the moment; that Twenty20 win last night has done no harm for our confidence at all," he added. England, who replaced India as the world No.1 Test team with their 4-0 whitewash, are currently ranked fifth in the ICC ODI rankings. A series victory over India will see them climb up the ladder. Over the years, England have failed to transform their Test form into the limited-overs cricket and Swann said this is an area where they would look to work on this summer. "This was an area we need to really watch; it can often be a bit of a damp squib after a Test series and hopefully it will be a positive rather than negative end to the summer," he said. "It`s not something we have discussed amongst us until now, but I`m sure we will soon. The summer has gone great for us; we are hoping to carry that on in the one-day series. It`s a better feeling to be winning rather than losing," he added. In their last two Ashes wins, where they beat Australia 2-1 at home in 2009 and 3-1 away last winter, England were unable to hold on to their form and lost 1-6 in the two seven-match ODI series that followed. Asked about England`s poor ODI record, Swann said, "I dunno ... we`ve missed a certain X-factor in players but I think we`re getting that now in Jake Dernbach and Eoin Morgan... we`re starting to find those real match-winners with bat and ball." The five-match ODI series versus India begins in Durham on Saturday. PTI