London: Graeme Swann believes that attacking Nathan Lyon, Australia's off-spin bowler, will be England's best way of unsettling their opponents when the Ashes series begins next month. As England's one-day batsmen continue to show the aggressive intent that has been such a hallmark of the summer, Swann feels Lyon will be the weakest link in Australia's armoury as England look to regain the Ashes, starting with the first Test in Cardiff on July 8.

Although Lyon has become a firm fixture in the Test team, taking 19 wickets during the 2013-14 series in Australia, he has played only three Tests in England. "I'm not saying Lyon is a weak link, but he's probably their weakest," Swann, the former England off spinner, said. "Australia have a similar team to New Zealand, they've good seam bowling and aggressive batting, but their spinner is their weakest link."

At the start of the 2013 Ashes series in England, Australia began the series with Ashton Agar, the left-arm spinner, before recalling Lyon for the last three Tests. Having reaped the rewards of an aggressive approach during the one-day series against New Zealand, Swann believes that England's batsmen should be similarly fearless when they encounter Lyon in the five-day game.

"I think you should always attack the spinner, especially when he comes on," Swann said. "I used to love it when teams didn't attack me, because then you can bowl all day. England players throughout history have been tentative against spin. And it's not the way to play against finger spin, you attack them.

"Lyon has the off spinner and the arm ball. There is no mystery, but if you let guys bowl, they'll take wickets. So don't let them bowl."

Swann believes that England must choose Moeen Ali, the off spinner, in Cardiff, but expressed his frustration that England missed the opportunity to blood Adil Rashid, the leg spinner, in Test cricket on pitches conducive to spin in the West Indies.