Swann believes England still favourites to win Lord’s Test

London: England off spinner Graeme Swann has claimed they are still favourites to win the 1st Test match against West Indies at Lord’s despite losing two quick wickets during a panic-stricken final half-hour of day four, chasing 191 for victory.

Swann admitted losing captain Andrew Strauss was a blow to their hopes, leaving them at 10-2, but added he is confident of winning the match. “That was always going to be tricky batting in the gloom against a world-class bowler like Kemar Roach, but luckily we’ve come through it relatively unscathed,” Swann said. “We’ve got Trotty and Cooky at the crease and we’ll be very confident that they can see us through,” he added. “The partnership of Marlon Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed that if you go out on that pitch and bat with application and wait for the bad ball, you become difficult to shift,” he said. ANI