My man Graeme Swann (well, after Ceci and Mel have finished with him) has made a little bit of history, by becoming the first English spinner to take 50 wickets in a calendar year. The highest previously, or so I am told, was Jim Laker with 48 (in fewer matches, admittedly). He's trusted with a pretty new ball, given the fields that he wants and does the job for Straussy pretty much every time. And he's got some quality batsmen on his list of victims, including Shiv Chanderpaul three times in five matches. If Mitchell Johnson hadn't got undeserved wickets in the Ashes (he really should have offered them exclusively to the fielders for all the rubbish he bowled in that series), Graeme Swann would be at the head of the wicket tally for 2009. In my mind he is.
Admittedly he has a preference for left-handers, but he's still picked up wickets off the righties, including batsmen like Kallis, (P)Ricky, Clarke, Amla, AB, Dravid, VVS, Viru, Sarwan, Bouch and Hadds. Pretty damn good, if you ask me. The Swannster had better keep this up and not go the way of the Mont-ster, though. Or I will be one miserable little chicken come next Australian summer.
5 comments:
Really??? I thought England just played the Ashes, the Windies and now the Saffers. Hmm...
Btw, who do you support in the Ashes?!
It really sticks in Agnew's craw that MJ is leading wicket taker as well. He sounds really frustrated every time he mentions it. Ha, ha, ha.
Do you think that Swann has never taken undeserved wickets then?
Purna, I've supported England in the Ashes since Ponting became captain. Don't think I'll go back to supporting my home team til there's a dramatic regime change.
Yes, Lou, Swann's taken some undeserved wickets too. But last time I looked in a mirror, I only had one eye. Never made any claims of objectiveness :P
But what makes you dislike MJ so much? Considering he has had one of the most inexperienced line-ups of all time to bowl with, he has done pretty well for someone with control issues. He started the year with only 17 matches under his belt and has had very inexperienced bowlers and often debutants alongside him in every series since.
Swanny has had far more support than that.
Watto or Haddin I can understand. I wish that Haddin would get replaced by Paine so much it hurts.
Lou
Ooh, that's harsh MG. I like Ponting. He isn't the greatest captain but he did drag your bowling slump out of a very bad patch. Something stupid Smith still has to learn! Plus Ponting has that balls of steel. I like that in a cricketer.
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