Adelaide (Australia), Dec. 1 : England opener Alastair Cook may not be the batsman you would go miles to watch, but his strong mentality and his ability to deliver in a telling manner when the chips are down, makes him an asset for any team, feels off-spinner Graeme Swann.

In a write-up for The Sun, Swann said: “He might be a handsome man with those dark smouldering looks but, when he straps on his pads, he is horrible to watch. There are people in our team you''d pay to watch — the Bells, Pietersens and the Swanns! Then there are some for whom you wouldn''t cough up an Aussie cent — like Cook, Strauss and Trott. But they''re the ones churning out the big hundreds so we don''t care what they look like.”

He adds: “He''s had to be mentally strong as it was only two Tests ago there were widespread calls for him to be dropped. Then he scored a ton at The Oval against Pakistan and it all changed. To get a double-century in Australia is incredible. He said it was his highest score in any cricket — he thinks. It must be nice if you have to think whether 235 not out is your best. I can tell you it would be mine!

Swann said that he watched Cook’s ten and a half hour knock lying on the floor.

He said: “We bowlers are very superstitious when England bat. So, if I get into a position that''s comfy and we''re not losing wickets, I won''t move. I stayed in my spot on the floor — it was horrendously uncomfortable and my back was killing me by the end of the day. But who cares when England aren''t losing wickets?

Swann says England has taken more out of the First Test than Australia, and adds that nothing has changed in his mind about England’s chances of winning an Ashes series Down Under.

“Australia had a tough couple of days and their press is tearing them to pieces. But we know they''ll come back twice as hard. This series will be a real dogfight,” he said. (ANI)