England looking beyond No 1 spot, says Swann

England's Graeme Swann feels that becoming the No 1 Test side will not be enough for the Andrew Strauss-led side

England looking beyond No 1 spot, says Swann

England's Graeme Swann feels that becoming the No 1 Test side will not be enough for the Andrew Strauss-led side.

England, who lead the four-match Test series against India 2-0, can dislodge the visitors from the top spot if they win the series by a margin of two Tests.

"England are close to becoming the No 1 ranked Test team in the world, but that will not be enough for this group. We want to create a dynasty, a long-term era of success and to be remembered as one of the best England teams ever," Swann wrote in his column for The Sun.

Swann (left) celebrates a wicket during Lord's Test. PIC/Getty Images

Swann feels reaching No 1 is not the end of the journey, it will be only the beginning.

"We are not there yet, of course, and our prime objective at the moment is making sure we are fully focused for the Third Test at Edgbaston. Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower will stop any of us taking our eyes off the ball," he said. Swann said that England must make sure to win the series against India and things such as rankings would take care of themselves.

"Yet we make no bones about wanting to be the top team and the exciting thing is the guys who are performing right now will be around for many years.

"The likes of Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell - who all played brilliantly in our win at Trent Bridge - are well under the age of 30. It gives England the chance to be a top side for a long time to come."

"I know Flower's view is that we don't want to have a brief glimpse of what it's like to be top dogs. We want to lay the foundation for a prolonged period at the summit," he added.

Swann wants fans to remember the current England team like they did the Australian team of the 1990s and the West Indies team of the 80s. "I want people in future to talk about the England team of the teenies -- or whatever this decade is called! It's hard for me to say how good we are.

"But I do know we have huge self-belief and an incredible team spirit. That is key -- there might have been England teams with better individuals but not many play better as a team," he said.