The Surfer

Meeting the Swann family

England offspinner Graeme Swann is also a known prankster and a master mimic

Akhila Ranganna
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
England offspinner Graeme Swann is also a known prankster and a master mimic. Sandeep Dwivedi in Indian Express finds out that Swann’s attitude and persona were shaped by an atmosphere at home that allowed children to be themselves.
The mood in the England camp can be gauged by the happy slip cordon, especially when Swann is around. Father Raymond says that Andrew Strauss seemed a relieved man at Trent Bridge when a hand injury had forced Graeme to field in the deep.
“He is either in splits because of some joke that Graeme has cracked or has his fingers in his ears,” he says. With the motor-mouth within handshaking distance, the boredom of a long-drawn day doesn’t affect the team. Raymond adds how Strauss loves pulling his son’s leg by calling him a “buffoon” and Graeme gets back by labelling the England captain “upper-class”.

Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo