Having been there and done that, Graeme Swann is now mentoring a group of young England spinners, who would take part in a ‘Shadow Tour’ of India next month, with some of them in contention to make the senior team for five Test series . , starting on January 25. Off-spinner Swann claimed 20 wickets and, along with Monty Panesar, played a crucial role in handing India a shock 2-1 defeat in a four-Test series in 2012-13 for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, a rare achievement. in history.
Before that series, England had won a Test series in 1984-85 and Swann was instrumental in a series victory after 27 long years.
Swann is currently back in his role as spin bowling consultant during an England Lions camp in the UAE, who will also be busy playing their India A counterparts at the same time.
“A lot of them are just worried about what it’s like in Test cricket; should you bowl magic balls or do something else? Not really – the pressure of Test cricket is felt as much by the batsmen, if not more so, than the bowler,” said Swann to ESPNCricinfo.
‘I used to be exactly the same. I thought you absolutely had to be better than you’ve ever been before every time you bowled in Test cricket. That’s actually not the case,” he said.
Swann, who is England’s seventh highest wicket-taker with 255 scalps in 60 Tests and their second-best spinner overall, believes sticking to one’s talent should be enough for any bowler.
“You have to be yourself and be very consistent. That’s probably what I’m trying to overcome the most – they all already have the balls in their locker to take wickets in Test cricket,” he added.
With humor being a big part of 44-year-old Swann’s life, he says working with England players in whatever capacity keeps him motivated.
“To be able to be involved and hopefully do something for the good of the team and English cricket, it’s a completely different feeling. It makes me skip out of bed in the morning, instead of dragging myself outside sulking after the dog in the park,” he added.
Swann’s career came to an abrupt end when he announced his retirement, plagued by an elbow injury, midway through England’s 5–0 defeat by Australia in the 2013/14 Ashes Down Under.
But the offie, who also played 79 ODIs and 39 T20Is for England, including an appearance at the 2011 World Cup, said there is no room for regrets.
“You keep thinking: Could I have waited? Could I have seen if my elbow got better? And then I would see England playing again and get a huge pang of jealousy,” he said.
“I’ll be honest, I still get it now. I guess it will help if Jimmy Anderson breaks a hip or something by the time he goes. But it’s hard to see your buddy still doing it and standing on the outside. It is not fun.” ‘I’d love to be a grey-haired, wily old spinner playing for England like him. To be honest, I don’t think I would have been able to maintain my fitness level. That’s life. I’ve been dealt a great hand for five years. If I regret the end of it, it takes away from how wonderful those five years were,” Swann added.
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