Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann was born in Northampton on the 24th March 1979. His father Raymond Swann played county cricket for Northumberland and was critical in shaping Swann's career.
He made his debut for county cricket side Northampton in 1998. His early promise shone through and he was an unused player in England's 1999 test with New Zealand. He was also included in the One Day International (ODI) side that faced South Africa. That tour saw him miss the team bus due to oversleeping, something that saw him go nomad from international cricket for eight years.

He moved to Nottinghamshire in 2005, and by 2007 he had found form that was impossible for the English selectors to ignore. In 2007 he hit 516 and took 45 wickets. Due to his return to the Test side his appearances in county cricket have reduced significantly. 

Following Monty Panesar's severe loss of form, Swann was called into the side against India. His debut was very special. He dismissed Guatam Gambhir with just his third ever international ball and then took Rahul Dravid with his sixth, becoming just the second player in Test history to take two wickets during his first Test over.

Despite this explosive debut, England opted to retain Panesar, and it wasn't until 2009 that Swann was recalled to the side. Returning for the third Test with the West Indies, the spin-bowler took his first five-wicket haul with figures of 5 for 57. These are the second best figures for any spin bowler in Antigua. Swann took another five wickets in the first innings of the fourth Test.

From this point onwards, Swann was England's designated spinner. He was selected for the 2009 Ashes series, in which he took 14 wickets as he helped England regain the Ashes. Swann was also of paramount importance for England when they toured South Africa in December 2009. He took 21 wickets, the most from either side, as he helped England to a 1-1 draw. As a result of this performance he ended the year ranked as the third best bowler in the world, as well as becoming the first English spin bowler to take 50 wickets in a year.

Swann helped his country win the 2010 20/20 World Cup, and also helped England to become the number one ranked Test side. A further two Ashes victories also went his way.
In his international career he has played 57 matches, taking 248 wickets at a 28.55 average. He has also had 17 five-wicket hauls and three matches in which he has taken 10 wickets.

He announced his retirement shortly before the Boxing Day Test in 2013.

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