Scene is set for Graeme Swann to make the difference

Swann, the slow bowler who has fronted a rock group called Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations and is a fan of social networking site Twitter, is a seldom short of a good line - be it on the field, the stage or the internet.

But behind the quick quips there is a serious cricketer, and the next few days should see him at the forefront of England's attempts to win the final Test at the Brit Oval and snatch the Ashes from Australia's grasp.

It was a case of MBEs all around - plus an OBE for captain Michael Vaughan - four years ago when the Aussies were beaten. But, right now, Swann would surely settle for putting his name up in lights, rather than onto the honour's list, in South London.

England thought about playing two spinners at The Oval but in the end decided to leave left-armer Monty Panesar on the sidelines. Australia, on the other hand, considered recalling Swann's opposite number, Nathan Hauritz, but eventually opted for a seam-heavy attack.

By last night, after only one day of the Test that will settle this series, both teams probably wished they could change their minds, given the benefit of hindsight.

Australia's part-time off-spinner, Marcus North, achieved considerable turn - and, bearing in mind that this is a dry pitch seems certain to dust up as the match wears on, Swann could become a key weapon for England by the fourth innings.

Ian Bell, who led the way with 72 yesterday while the hosts made a neither-famine-nor-feast score of 307 for eight after winning the toss, certainly thought the game was nicely poised. "This already feels more like a three-day pitch and much more likely to be a result pitch than most here," said Bell.

If the surface does crumble then pace bowlers could be a threat because of uneven bounce. But if it holds together yet continues to encourage spin then Swann should be a real handful - if only England can set a tough enough fourth-innings target.

The Notts bowler came into the Ashes showdown with decidedly ordinary figures. His six wickets from the first four Tests cost 68 runs apiece - particularly unimpressive when one considers that the now overlooked Hauritz took 10 at an average of 32 from the opening three matches of the series.

Crucially, though, Swann delivered on the one occasion when England desperately needed him to turn the screw, striking four times in the second innings at Lord's.

Thanks to Andrew Flintoff's five-wicket haul that eventually wrapped up the Second Test, Swann's contribution to a 115-run victory was largely overlooked.

But the 30-year-old did the business when it was needed on that occasion and appears to be the sort of character more likely to relish life under the spotlight than wilt when the heat becomes intense.

Australia's batting today will go a long way towards determining whether England made enough of their good fortune in winning the toss for the fourth time in five Tests.

Most people thought - before a ball was bowled - that only a total of around 500 would be good enough to put the Aussies under a bit of pressure. But that view was revised, at least to some extent, once the pitch was shown to be lacking the pace and bounce expected of it.

The fact remains, though, that England once again failed to stamp their authority on proceedings.

They have still managed just the one century in this series - Andrew Strauss's 161 at Lord's - whereas Australia have posted seven scores in three figures. When one considers that the top three wicket-takers are Australian - with Peter Siddle (20), Ben Hilfenhaus (19) and Mitchell Johnson (18) all well clear of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad (both 12 apiece) - before start of play today, it is remarkable that the Ashes are still up for grabs.

In boxing, the referee would have stepped in to save England from further punishment. In cricket, though, there is still time for someone like Swann to deliver a knockout blow.