English journeyman underestimates opposition

India beat the unbeatable Aussies - comfortably, too - in this autumn’s gripping Test series. Then they destroyed England in the first two one-day internationals, with more humiliation set to follow for Kevin Pietersen and his workmanlike team-mates.

If our maths is right, surely that entitles the Indians to call themselves world-beaters? They have, after all, just beaten the best cricket team in the world, and made England look like a pub side.

But no! Graeme Swann, the county-standard spinner who has just been called up to England’s ODI squad, claims that India “are not that good… they’re not the unbelievable world beaters that some of the local press make them out to be”.

Not that good!? What wacky substance has Swann been smoking since his arrival in India? Because in terms of raw talent, the Indians are clearly leading the world right now, and by some distance.

To say that India “are not that good” is one of the dumbest remarks an English cricketer has made this year - and that includes the many pearls that fall from the mouth of Kevin Pietersen.