Twitter
Advertisement

Graeme Swann wants fifth Ashes Test win to cap ‘dream year’

The England spinner said he would not draw a line under 2010 until after the fifth Test and few could blame him after a 12 months of great success in which he was the leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 64 scalps.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

England's Graeme Swann wants to round off his "dream year" with victory in the fifth Ashes Test next week but admitted on Saturday he would have taken a 2-2 draw at the start of the series.

As holders, England retained the Ashes by taking a 2-1 lead with victory in Melbourne on Wednesday but Australia could still square the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The England spinner said he would not draw a line under 2010 until after the fifth Test and few could blame him after a 12 months of great success in which he was the leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 64 scalps.

"It's been pretty much a dream year. I got married in January, won the (Twenty20) World Cup in (May), retained the Ashes in December," he told reporters on Saturday.

"If 2011 can be anything like that I will be over the mood. It's been a dream period for me. We've played some very good cricket and there are not many England players who can say they have played in two Ashes, won one, retained the other and won a World Cup."

It is all a far cry from the days when lack of discipline caused Swann to be discarded by England, taking him the best part of seven years to fight his way back. Swann is determined to enjoy his renaissance.

"Every dog has its day and it's worked out for me, just enjoy it while it's happening," added the 31-year-old.

"I think every dog has his day and mines been over the past year. It's just worked well for me. I'm not arrogant to say that I've improved mentally and physically and worked out batsmen here and there.

"I've had a lot of luck, a lot of things have gone my way, and I've bowled well in other periods.

"Players have purple patches and the trick is to enjoy it and not get too far ahead of yourself because if you start believing your own hype you're soon on the way back down pretty quickly and nobody likes you."

While his England team mates have been touting the party line that victory in Sydney is essential for the tour to be a success, Swann said he would have taken returning home with the Ashes after a drawn series back in October.

"Personally I would have done because it meant we've still got the Ashes," he said.

"We've come over here and played some unbelievable cricket to go 2-1 up in the series so we obviously want to win 3-1,"  he added.

"If we don't play well in this game and draw two all, we'll be disappointed but no one will think it's a backwards  step."                    

While Swann does not always follow the party line, organising the party is quite a different matter and the sociable finger spinner said he had played his role.

"We had one night out after the game, you should celebrate a test victory and an Ashes retaining victory heavily. I tried to lead a merry dance. But that was one night and we've moved on."  

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement