Graeme Swann

An attacking off spinner, Graeme Swann is a late bloomer. He was first selected to play for England under the coaching rule of Duncan Fletcher in 1999 when they toured South Africa. He didn't get to play a Test, but made his ODI debut. However, it was not his bowling skills that were questioned, but his cherubic nature which didn't impress Fletcher. He was dubbed too laid back and sent back to the domestic scene.

A period of frustration followed and Swann didn't make his international comeback till 2008 under Peter Moores. He had a sensational debut against India in Chennai as he took the wickets of Gambhir and Dravid in his opening over in Test cricket - only the second time that has happened.

A wonderful Ashes series in 2009 followed and he had the honor of claiming the Ashes sealing victim when he got Mike Hussey out at the Oval. He went from strength to strength as a hugely successful winter tour to South Africa was followed by a tournament headlining performance in the successful T20 World Cup in the West Indies. In December 2009, he became the first English spinner to take 50 wickets in a calendar year, culminating in back-to-back man of the match awards in the first two Tests of the South Africa tour and third place in the world rankings for bowlers.

Swann became one of the key men of England's attack as they sought to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time in 24 years in 2011. Mike Hussey battered his confidence by going after him in the opening Test at Brisbane. But Swann bounced back with vigor as he shone in the innings win at Adelaide and though he didn't take many wickets after that, he kept one end tight and never let the pressure slip. Swann's efforts along with the heroics of the seamers ensured that England won the Ashes with ease.

During the 2011 World Cup, Swann was England's highest wicket taker with 12 wickets from 7 matches. After World Cup, England hosted Sri Lanka in May and he took 7/82 in the first Test itself to ensure England an innings victory. He took a total of 12 wickets in that series and a further 8 wickets in the ODI series to rise to the number 1 spot in the ICC's ODI bowler rankings.

Swann also captained England in the absence of Stuart Broad and Eoin Morgan, for the first time when West Indies toured England for two T20Is.

Swann had an uneventful start to 2012 as England failed miserably against Pakistan playing in UAE in the Test series, where they were whitewashed 0-3. Although England bounced back to complete a 4-0 whitewash in the ODIs, Swann could manage only 2 wickets from three matches. However, later in the year when England travelled to Sri Lanka for a two match Test series, Swann picked up 10 wickets in the second Test to once again prove his worth as an extraordinary spin bowler.

Despite this feat, he was surprisingly dropped for the Headingly Test against South Africa but later that year when England toured India, Swann became the second English spinner to cross 200 Test wickets after Derek Underwood and his wonderful performance along with Monty Panesar helped England win a Test series in India after 28 years.

Armed with a potent combination of spin and drift, the wily offie made the Australian batsman dance to his tunes in the 2013 Ashes Test series, bagging 26 Aussies wickets including two five wicket hauls. With the wicket of George Bailey, bowled playing down the wrong line, in the return Ashes opener at Brisbane, Swann became only the seventh English bowler to gain 250 Test wickets. Notably, he is the third quickest English bowler to reach the milestone after Sir Ian Botham and Fred Trueman.

Following a disappointing trip Down Under in 2013, Swann decided to call it quits midway during the Ashes series and his decision came as a shock to the England cricket fans. The off-spinner, who picked up just 7 wickets in the three matches at an average of 80, decided to call it a day after England lost the first three matches to lose the Ashes for the first time since 2009.

The off-spinner ended his career with 255 Test wickets, including 17 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls, from 60 matches at an average of 29.96. He finished sixth on the list of highest England wicket-takers, while he occupied the second spot for an England spinner with most wickets.

A wonderful slip fielder, Swann is a very attacking lower order batsman, who has chipped in with many fine cameos lower down the order. He is one of the most cleverest of sledgers and has often got under the opposition's skin with his witty and tongue in cheek comments.

With a classical off break action, Swann generates appreciable spin and though he hasn't developed the doosra, he is at present one of the best off spin bowlers in the world. Swann also has the uncanny knack of picking up a wicket in the first over of a spell. He has always troubled the left handers from round the wicket with the amount of drift that he gets in the air. Swann's rise to the top has coincided with England becoming one of the top Test teams in the world.

Interesting facts:

He is the lead singer of the rock band Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations which plays cover songs in gigs around Nottinghamshire.

During the Ashes series in 2010-11, Swann recorded his video diaries and those were a huge hit as he tried to reveal what goes on inside the England dressing room on tours.

Swann is on Twitter @Swannyg66 and often regales the audiences with his charming wit.

Srivathsa and Deivarayn Muthu