CRICKET:ENGLAND KNOW they cannot afford to let their world-beating standards slip in the final Test at The Oval tomorrow – for fear of finding themselves alone with a disapproving Andy Flower afterwards.

Coach Flower and captain Andrew Strauss have formed one of English sport’s most successful partnerships to haul their team up from near the bottom to the very top of the International Cricket Council rankings.

England are well aware complacency will not be tolerated as they near the end of a hard-working summer yet stand conversely, they hope, still near the start of an era of unprecedented success.

Graeme Swann is certainly on message – particularly, it seems, when it comes to Flower’s antipathy to inappropriate relaxation of attitudes.

They celebrated on Saturday night after trouncing India by an innings to clinch the series 3-0 and go to the top of those rankings, but all eyes were back on the ball as preparations began afresh yesterday.

“We always celebrate wins of magnitude . . . but we’re not carrying on thinking the series is over,” said Swann.

“It’s a nice place to be, number one in the world, but it’s not been the talk of the changing room.

“The plans for this series were set in place for all four games, so all the plaudits and ‘high-fiving’ can save itself until we get a bit of a break in November and December.”

Swann likens the task facing England tomorrow to the one at Sydney in January, when the Ashes had been retained but were still to be won outright.

They responded with an innings-and-83-run victory.

“A lot of people said the hard work was done, and people wouldn’t blame us for taking our foot off the gas at Sydney – but we actually pulled out our best performance of the trip.

“We’ll be looking to emulate that at The Oval, because if we even go halfway to matching that game at Sydney we’ll be doing well.

“I don’t think any of us wants to be in a room with Andy Flower if we do take our foot off the gas. I know I don’t.”

James Anderson’s fitness remains an issue after he played only a limited part in practice yesterday.

Anderson appeared to show little discomfort from his thigh injury – described by the England and Wales Cricket Board as “minor” – during fielding drills.

But unlike his fellow seamers selected in the squad for tomorrow, England’s pace spearhead did not bowl yesterday afternoon.

Graham Onions was called up as bowling cover on Monday, after Chris Tremlett’s back problem ruled him out and Anderson’s niggle emerged.

Swann had been unaware of Anderson’s injury until yesterday, but appears confident his team-mate will be fit in time.

“I honestly didn’t know he was injured until this morning when he told me everyone was saying he’s not going to play.

“Jimmy seemed fine to me – I’m sure it’s just a bit of stiffness.

“He didn’t seem to be limping from the car. I’m sure once he gets running around, he’ll want to play.

“I know how well he’s bowling at the minute – and when he’s doing well he’s hungry for the ball and just wants to keep going.”

Swann concedes it would be a blow to England, newly-established as the world’s top Test team, if Anderson were unavailable – but emphasises others could deputise admirably.

“He would be a huge loss, like any of the seamers,” he said.

“But we thought that with (Chris) Tremlett when he couldn’t play at Trent Bridge, and up stepped Bressie (Tim Bresnan) and he’s been unbelievable in the two games he’s played.

“We have got vast stocks of fast bowlers at the minute.”

Swann himself has been conspicuously short of wickets against India, but has been short of overs too – as he was at times last mid-summer when England’s seam attack also dominated in home conditions.