Dravid looks ahead to Swann battle

Rahul Dravid has said the upcoming England-India Test series will throw up an interesting contest between offspinner Graeme Swann and India's batsmen. Apart from Swann, he picked fast bowler James Anderson as being key to the series' outcome.

Since his Test debut in 2008, Swann has established himself as one of the top spinners in the world, rising to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings on the back of 140 wickets at 27.72.

"We first saw him [Swann] in England bowling here last time [in 2007] and the boys rated him," Dravid told the Cricketer magazine. "He's come on in leaps and bounds from then, and has become one of their lead bowlers.

"He's an attacking bowler and that's one of the things that is different. He's not just looking to contain, he's looking to take wickets. He's not scared to toss the ball up and gets turn with good sideways spin. It will be a good contest against batsmen who are good players against spin, who will not be scared to take him on. Swann and Anderson are the key. Anderson has bowled really well. He's been their trump card."

While England hold the home advantage, Dravid said India - who go into the series that begins on July 21 at Lord's as the No. 1 Test side - would provide a stiff challenge if their pace attack stays free of injury. India's bowling will be strengthened by the return of Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, both of whom missed the recent West Indies tour due to injury.

"England are playing at home, so they have that advantage. We're a good side, a settled side, and we've been playing good cricket over the last couple of years. If we can keep our fast bowlers fit, then we'll be very competitive."

The hugely anticipated series pits two sides who have built formidable records in Tests over the past two years against each other; England haven't lost a series since early 2009, winning seven of their past eight, and India last lost a series nearly three years ago.

"It's a series between two teams that have had good recent records, which gives it a bit more context. We won in England last time [2007], so from that point of view England will want to do better this time."

Dravid, who is currently at No. 3 in the Test-runs scorers' chart - and only 49 shy of Ricky Ponting - said India's success in the longest format is a highlight of his career. "I've seen Indian cricket since 1996, and to be part of this journey and to see India become the No. 1 Test team - not just for a short period of time, because we've now been there for more than a year - it's something I'm very proud of."