Swann counting down the days

Christmas will be coming a month early - but barely soon enough - for Graeme Swann when England finally begin their Ashes campaign at the Gabba.

The world's number one spin bowler has been ticking off the days until this Thursday, ever since he and his team-mates arrived in Perth at the end of October.

"When we first got over here I daren't think of the first Test match - because I was like a kid on December 1, with an Advent calendar," said the 31-year-old. "I couldn't wait for the 25th to come along."

Swann and England's three other first-choice bowlers were joined in Brisbane on Sunday by the remainder of the squad - fresh from beating Australia A in Hobart - having skipped the tourists' final warm-up match in favour of early acclimatisation.

He has been pinching himself in these sub-tropical climes, struggling to contain a childlike anticipation of England's defence of the Ashes and their attempt to win in Australia for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.

"It's really building now, less than a week to go," he continued. "I go back to my room at night and I smile like a lunatic and bounce off the walls. It's going to be amazing come Thursday - I just can't wait."

Swann senses it is not just he who can barely keep a lid on the excitement and he said "It's inevitable. The intensity is going to be hyped up - the cameras in your face, the people in the street. Any player would be lying if he said you can't feel it."

England's tour so far has been hugely encouraging on the field, with two wins and by far the best of a rain-affected draw in the bag from their three-match warm-up schedule.

"We've played some excellent cricket over the last three or four weeks," added Swann. "The acclimatisation couldn't have gone better really.

"I think it just showed the strength and the depth of our squad that we could give Australia A such a good beating the other day."