Graeme Swann believes England must beat India at home and off if they are to accomplish their aim to be one of the best ODI nations in the world.
Team director Andy Flower has pointed betterment in the 50 over game. England is at present ranked fifth after guiding his team to the top of the Test standings.
England are favorites to win the present series against a injury depleted India, who are without most of the team that won the World Cup in April, as the hosts go ahead 1-0 heading into tomorrow's third game at The Oval.
Whereas Swann is concentrated on securing the series success he believes any longer-term ambitions will only be realized if England also win in the return series on the sub-continent next month.
"Our official ranking is five and I don't think we can disagree with that," he said in an interview shown on Sky Sports News.
"We have to beat teams like India, not just in this series, but when we be off to play them as well."
Team director Andy Flower has pointed betterment in the 50 over game. England is at present ranked fifth after guiding his team to the top of the Test standings.
England are favorites to win the present series against a injury depleted India, who are without most of the team that won the World Cup in April, as the hosts go ahead 1-0 heading into tomorrow's third game at The Oval.
Whereas Swann is concentrated on securing the series success he believes any longer-term ambitions will only be realized if England also win in the return series on the sub-continent next month.
"Our official ranking is five and I don't think we can disagree with that," he said in an interview shown on Sky Sports News.
"We have to beat teams like India, not just in this series, but when we be off to play them as well."
Swann believes one-day skipper Alastair Cook is hushing his doubters after his match-winning innings in the rain shortened win at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.
Cook's suitableness for the shorter formats had been questioned when he was installed as skipper earlier this summer, but he replied with an unbeaten 80 off 63 balls in Southampton.
"He's just let his bat do the talking," Swann added.
"It is very good for Cooky. He works very tough on his game, no-one works harder on his game while Kevin Pietersen might tell you in a different way.
"It is magnificent that it is paying off for him.
"He was written off; he's still hitting sixes these days. So you never know hell may freeze over."
Cook's suitableness for the shorter formats had been questioned when he was installed as skipper earlier this summer, but he replied with an unbeaten 80 off 63 balls in Southampton.
"He's just let his bat do the talking," Swann added.
"It is very good for Cooky. He works very tough on his game, no-one works harder on his game while Kevin Pietersen might tell you in a different way.
"It is magnificent that it is paying off for him.
"He was written off; he's still hitting sixes these days. So you never know hell may freeze over."
