GRAEME SWANN believes England can challenge the record books once more and eliminate Australia on the way to Champions Trophy glory.

Few gave England a prayer in this eight-team tournament when they arrived in South Africa on the back of a 6-1 NatWest Series drubbing to Australia.

However, with little weight of expectation given their performances in both present and long term – England have never won a global tournament – Andrew Strauss’ team eased into the semi-finals and now face their Ashes rivals for the 15th time in under three months.

And England have shown an ability to win when it is unexpected, with their first Test win over Australia at Lord’s since 1934 a case in point.

“History was against us at Lord’s this year when we hadn’t won for 75 years, but we won there and maybe this is a year when everything changes,” declared Swann.

“Coming off the back of six defeats, you are thinking ‘this Champions Trophy is three days out there and then we’ll get back home and have a bit of a break’.

“But as soon as we got out here there seemed to be – in training, in games – a lift for everyone. There is a good spirit and we have played some exciting cricket.

“Straightaway, everyone is thinking ‘hang on, we have beaten Sri Lanka and beaten South Africa, they’re the tournament favourites, why not go on and win the whole thing?’ “The way we played in those first two games, we could beat anyone.

‘‘Obviously, in an Australia game there is a little more on it because it is Australia.”

In boy’s own style, Swann would have preferred to meet Ricky Ponting and Co in the final, but their tense victory over Pakistan at Centurion yesterday set up Friday’s semifinal clash at the same venue.

England will have confidence at that venue following the 22-run win over the host nation, while Swann also has success against Australia fresh in the memory, his fivewicket haul setting up the win at Chester-le-Street that averted a campaign whitewash ten days ago.

“You are only as good as your last game and we trounced them at Chester-le- Street. I think we’ve got a hold on them, if anything!” joked Swann.

Joking aside, England will hope they are considerably better than their last game, after they were routed for only 146 in bowler-friendly conditions by New Zealand at the Wanderers yesterday.

“We knew the toss was crucial,”

said Swann, of the fourwicket loss. “We are certainly making no excuses about that because it helped us in no small part against Sri Lanka.

“We went out trying to be aggressive again, which is good to see, and it definitely went against us.

“Others will probably disagree but I was more than happy getting bowled out for 140 trying to play a few shots and make things happen, rather than limping along to 170 and probably still losing the game.

“Last night’s game, if it had been played three weeks ago, we would have lost by ten wickets, because when they were 100-0 we could have easily laid down and died. But it showed the spirit in the camp that Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad carried on running in.

“The bit of chin music that Broady played for a while was heartening to the soul.”

England should also be boosted by the return of wicketkeeper Matt Prior to training tomorrow following a virus.

Broad will be assessed further tomorrow after complaining of tightness in his left buttock after claiming four New Zealand wickets.

Meanwhile, Strauss and Durham fast bowler Graham Onions have both been shortlisted for honours at tomorrow night’s International Cricket Council awards dinner in Sandton, Johannesburg.

■ England spinner Monty Panesar has agreed to play domestic cricket for South African side Highveld Lions this winter – if if he fails to make the national squad for the South Africa tour.