The rise & rise of Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann bagged his first 10-wicket haul as England laboured to a 181-run victory over Bangladesh at Chittagong in the first test.

Long gone are the days where his off field antics caused him to fall out of favour with the England management after the 1999 tour to South Africa.

Although life was understandable frustrating finding himself out of the test team he did however play during the one-day international triangular tournament. An injury to Ashley Giles opened the door for him to bowl five overs in the match, showing confidence and spinning the ball well.

It is clear to see from the way that Swann plays that he is a very confident and cheeky chappy. In fact upon bumping into him at Wimbledon one year, before becoming an England fixture, I asked if he was infact Graeme Swann. He turned to me and said: "I most certainly am", which always gathers a laugh when I tell people due to the predictability of the reaction.

His persona did not sit well with the England management 10 years ago. As a result of his confidence, which at the time was interpreted as arrogance, he rapidly feel out of favour.

A move from Northamptonshire to Nottinghamshire appeared to be the change that would see Swann break into the England test squad. In 2007, after becoming an instrumental part of the Trent Bridge outfit, winning the County Championship in 2005 and helping them regain first division status again in 2007, he was recalled for the tour to Sri Lanka.

At the time Monty Panesar's star was fading and Graeme Swann's stock was well and truely rising. He finally made his test début against India in Chennai, taking two wickets in his first over - only the second time this has happened.

Swann's control and ability to vary the balls that he bowls in terms of flight and turn, this allied with his lusty lower-order hitting, displaced Panesar as England's test spinner and secured his a place in the 2009 Ashes winning England team.

After starting the first test nervously in Cardiff bowling in tandem with Panesar on a SWALEC stadium which was predicted to turn he soon settled and contributed a number of match-turning performances. (Pardon the pun).

Not only did he display good flight and guile with the ball but made important contributions with the bat as part of England's frequently used re-guard action.

In the third test at Edgbaston he was locked in a compelling battle with Australian captain Ricky Ponting for five balls, before castling him with his own 'ball of the century'.



In the final test at The Oval Swann added to his four-wicket haul that he achieved at Lord's, taking the wicket of Michael Hussey to seal the series on the final day.

Following this Ashes winning series the England team knew they needed to do their upmost to avoid the same hangover which dogged the England team after the 2005 series. Touring South Africa, in the second test Swann collected nine wickets in the game, including 5 for 54 in England's innings demolition in Durban.

After taking 54 wickets in the calender year, the first time this had been managed by an England spinner in over 50 years, Swann rocketed to the position of no. 3 in the world, the highest ranking for an England spinner in decades.

Swann is now one of pivotal members of the current England team, and it is fair to say one of the first names of the team sheet.