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The remarkable rise of Graeme Swann

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 09/01/2010
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Off-spinner Graeme Swann has become a crucial figure for England in the last 12 months, emerging as one of the leading slow bowlers in world cricket.

The 30-year-old Nottinghamshire ace has become the first England spinner to take 50 Test wickets in a calendar year and his risen to the upper echelons of the ICC world rankings as a result.

Swann's exploits are all the more impressive given that he was selected for a tour of South Africa a decade ago and was quickly banished after oversleeping and missing the start of a practice session.

However, having left Northamptonshire to join Nottinghamshire in 2005, Swann has rebuilt his reputation and become a genuine matchwinner on the international stage.

His Test debut eventually came in Chennai against India in December 2008 and after showing up well there, he made his mark during the subsequent tour of the West Indies

Swann took 19 wickets in three matches against the Windies, recording five-wicket hauls in both Antigua and Barbados, while a home series against the same opposition saw him register a first half-century with the bat.

Last summer's Ashes series was to bring further progress for Swann, despite him struggling for wickets for much of the time against the Baggy Greens.

His efforts with the bat helped England somehow secure a draw in the first Test at Cardiff, before Swann's second-innings return of 4-87 at Lord's helped the hosts to a 115-run victory, with the spinner proving to be the perfect foil to the fiery Andrew Flintoff.

Two Tests of struggles followed, but with the series poised at 1-1 going into The Oval finale, Swann again came to the party just when he was needed.

Figures of 4-38 in the first innings helped England secure a massive 172-run advantage, before Swann a quickfire 63 helped to leave the sportsbook favourite Australians needing an unlikely victory target of 546 to ensure that they retained the Ashes.

Again Swann was the man for the occasion, taking three wickets before having the honour of securing the final wicket of the series.

Mike Hussey made a superb century before he propped forward to a flighted Swann delivery and looped a catch to the waiting Alastair Cook at short leg to send England wild in celebration.

Swann had clearly arrived as a major force, with his effervescent approach to the game also a major influence in the England dressing room.

He topped off a perfect 2009 by taking five wickets in an innings in both of the first two Tests in South Africa, going on to finish with nine wickets in the second Test in Durban as England won by an innings to take a 1-0 series lead.

Can Swann help inspire England to a series victory in South Africa? - Latest Cricket Betting

The challenge for Swann now is to maintain the high standards he has set and continue to make it almost impossible for Monty Panesar to earn an England recall.

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