Kanpur, November 19:

England have called up off-spinner Graeme Swann for Thursday’s third one-day international (ODI) to revive the tourists’ flagging fortunes after two heavy defeats against India.

Mahendra Dhoni’s home team outclassed England by 158 runs and 54 runs in the first two one-dayers to grab a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series that precedes next month’s two Test matches.

Swann is likely to play for the first time in the series on the dry Green Park pitch here after being short-listed in the 12-man squad announced today. The Nottinghamshire spinner, 29, has claimed 14 wickets in 12 one-dayers since his debut in 2000.

“As a spinner, you always look forward to bowling in India,” said Swann. “If I get to play, I hope there will be some turn in the wicket.” Swann said he was confident England will bounce back by winning the third match here. “As a side, we have been a bit unlucky,” he said.

“Yuvraj Singh was not in form when the series started, but he batted superbly and is hungry for runs. We also have two very good hitters in (Kevin) Pietersen and (Andrew) Flintoff and though they have not fired on all cylinders, I hope they will tomorrow and we will win the match,” he said.

Left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom, who missed the first two matches due to an Achilles problem, will once again sit out after feeling pain in his lower back since Tuesday. Middle-order batsman Ravi Bopara also missed training on Wednesday due

to a stomach ailment, but is expected to be fit for the match.

India, meanwhile, were hoping Yuvraj will continue his smashing form after scoring match-winning centuries in the first two matches. The left-hander hit 138 in the first game in Rajkot and followed that with 118 at Indore on Monday after being declared fit from a back problem just before the toss.

“I hope he scores his third consecutive century here,” Indian captain Dhoni said today. “On song, Yuvraj is simply one of the best, even the top bowlers struggle against him. He is in great touch.”

Only three batsmen — Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar of Pakistan and Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa — have scored centuries in three consecutive one-day matches.