'Such a poor take': Fans slam Graeme Swann for calling India-England series a warmup for the Ashes

England legend Graeme Swann slammed for labelling India vs England a warmup for the Ashes. (Photo: ICC)

In addition to throwing down the gauntlet ahead of the highly anticipated five-Test series against India, former England spinner Graeme Swann has angered fans by asking Ben Stokes' team to gain momentum against Shubman Gill's team before the Ashes later this year in Australia. England's first Test assignment since placing a dismal sixth in the 2023–25 World Test Championship cycle will be the five-match series against India, which kicks off at Headingley on June 20.

Despite their aggressive "Bazball" strategy, England only won 10 of their 22 games, losing 11 and drawing one.

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Even though India does not have Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, they are by no means underdogs. Although the team offers an excellent mix of youth and experience, many supporters, notably those in England, have taken issue with Swann's suggestion that England should view the series as a "warm-up" for the Ashes.

“It's kind of a perfect warm-up for the Ashes series. India is a huge series,” Swann told Sky Sports Cricket.

"Last 2-3 times, we have gone to India, and we were thoroughly outplayed. So, in our own backyard, our home turf, we need to beat India. We need to play well."

“They don't have Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, their two superstars with the bat. Yes, they've got great players coming up instead, but we've got bowlers who exploit our conditions well. England must look to win this series. I will take 4-1, 3-2 at best. I hope we do well and get the confidence moving into the Ashes.”

Swann's remark, however, did not sit well with the fans.

It's not difficult to understand why there is not a lot of love for English cricket globally when a test series - against the powerhouse team of the last decade no less - is described as a warm up for the Ashes. https://t.co/C5p0kujcsQ
Adam Sutherland (@AdamSants_) June 17, 2025

STOP CALLING EVERY SERIES A WARM UP FOR THE ASHES https://t.co/zxbzcR5gzf No Context County Cricket (@NoContextCounty) June 17, 2025

One of the reasons I respect Australian cricket is they will never treat any series as a warmup for any other one. They will play hard with same intensity against everyone & that's why they have played 2 WTC finals, won one while England finishes at no. 4 or 5 in a 9 team comp. https://t.co/b9crh2FSPH Akshay (@iAkshP) June 17, 2025

Same old story with this English ex-cricketers everything is warm-up for the ashes and the same team gets humbled during ashes and cycle continues By the way eng haven't won series against india since 2018 its nearly 7 years. https://t.co/SOu3WeaEa5 Kartik (@kartiksonagela) June 17, 2025

Not only is it disrespectful to call any test series a warm up for the Ashes, it's bordering on arrogance to do so for a series against India. https://t.co/bxYFroCQz4 Ethan Dalton (@EthanDalton96) June 17, 2025

This is the absurd mentality of English cricket in a nutshell.We are using a series against India at home, after all their greats quit, to warm up for an Ashes series down under.. a place we haven't won a *single Test match* in since 2011 https://t.co/geAYUxyvEJ Jack Mendel (@Mendelpol) June 17, 2025

Australia hosts the Ashes between November 2025 and January 2026. With a 3-1 victory over their most formidable opponents, England last won the Ashes Down Under in 2010–11. Since then, Australia has won or kept the trophy in four Ashes series since their previous victory ten years ago.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's most accomplished batsmen, both announced their retirements from Test cricket earlier this year, therefore they are not traveling to England. With wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant picked as his deputy, Shubman Gill will take on his first captaincy role in the longest format. Nonetheless, the line-up includes players like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah who have previously captained the Indian Test team.

The retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson have caused a generational shift in England's bowling attack, which will be put to the test against an Indian team. Swann, though, appears to be setting the tone for the home team's next journey to Australia by supporting the seamers to perform well in familiar conditions.