• Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

Swann not concerned by criticism

Graeme Swann tormented Sri Lanka with the ball © Getty Images

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Graeme Swann roared back at his critics with six wickets in the second innings of the first Test with Sri Lanka in Galle.

The match is well poised, with England sat on 111 for 2 in their pursuit of 340. Swann was the star turn with the ball, with his efforts going some way to silencing those who had questioned his form.

Swann claims he does not listen to the critics, choosing instead to let his abilities with the ball do the talking.

"Obviously I'm over the moon," he told Sky Sports of his six-wicket haul. "To get four last night was the best I've bowled for England for a while and to get two more this morning, and get a five-for, was nice because Jimmy [Anderson] was quick to point out that he'd overtaken me yesterday! But to be fair he was the first to come up and say it's 12-all now.

"People are welcome to their opinions [about my form]. My personal view is that expectation on me has risen, so I'm quite pleased to be in that situation.

"But I take the rough with the smooth and I've got a very good habit of not listening to people when they say I'm not bowling very well."

England require a further 229 for victory, on a pitch where the highest winning run chase is 96, but Swann feels they are favourites.

"I'd say we are," Swann said. "We've had a good start. We're 111 for 2, KP [Kevin Pietersen] and Trotty [Jonathan Trott] are looking very secure at the crease so hopefully they can carry on with their burgeoning partnership.

"It still is a very good pitch and once people get in it's difficult to shift them, that's what was so frustrating with numbers 10 and 11 for Sri Lanka today, we just couldn't get them out for half-an-hour, 40 minutes.

"So you think the guys in our team, obviously the batsmen, were all watching that and thinking this is a pitch we can still score runs on."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.