Swann hopes to be fully fit within a week

Graeme Swann, the England and Nottinghamshire spinner, has said he hopes to be fit for the club's first Championship game next week after undergoing elbow surgery following the Test series in the West Indies. Swann said the operation allowed to him to bowl without pain for the first time in four years.

"I'm desperately trying to convince the physio and the coaches at Notts that I'm fit to play a part in the opening fixtures of the domestic season," he told the club's website. "Everything works properly again and I can't wait to get started."

Swann had a fruitful three Tests on the Caribbean tour, taking 19 wickets at 24.05 apiece but dropped out of the one-dayers because of a painful elbow. "I had a bit of a dodgy elbow which had been building for a couple of years. I went and had an operation which led to the removal of 29 loose bodies which justified the decision to get it done and to miss the one-day series in the West Indies.

"I'd had that many injections and pills by the end of the Test series that it was time to get it fixed and I'm so happy that it's been done and it doesn't hurt anymore."

It has been a dream run for Swann since his debut against India last year, and he has edged ahead of Monty Panesar to become England's frontline Test spinner. He is hopeful of getting his chance to test the success of his operation in match conditions when Nottinghamshire open their Championship campaign against Worcestershire on April 21.