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Those responsible for elite teams that have
embraced Swann have been extensively
rewarded. Latterly, Andy Flower and Mick
Newell have had their faith justified as
Swann came of age to become the world’s
number one spinner.
“You just have to let Swanny be,” says
Franks. “He is what he is and you only get a
third of him if you try and subdue him.
“This success always had the potential
to arrive but not everybody gets the
opportunity. Regime change came at the
right time for him but talent enabled him
to succeed.”
Swann himself concedes that luck has
played its part but his strength of mind
enabled him to prosper: “I’ve been very
lucky because there are a dozen spinners
with the same talent as me that haven’t
made it. The difference with me is my
approach and my confidence in my own
ability, which is important for a spin bowler.
Franksie, David Sales, Stephen Peters and
countless others could have hadTest careers
had injury, bad form and other factors not
hit at the wrong time.”
Swann’s status has helped to ensure a stellar
line-up for his showpiece Benefit Dinner
at the Hurlingham Club on 19 September.
Radio 1 DJ Greg James, Swann’s occasional
co-host on Radio 5 live, will host the
event with comedian Jack Whitehall and
auctioneer Jonny Gould warming the stage
ahead of a performance from Dr Comfort
and the Lurid Revelations.
TheTrent Bridge Community SportsTrust,
the charitable arm of Nottinghamshire
County Cricket Club, is one of four charities
set to receive a donation from Swann’s
fund-raising with the Belvoir Castle Cricket
Trust, PCA Benevolent Fund and School
for Parents also set to benefit.
Franks has his own review of Swann’s
members’ lunch performance (“A few were
laughing, most were asleep - but don’t
expect to see any of them at the Hurlingham
Club”) but knows from his own experiences
that he is more than adept at serving as a
source of constant entertainment.
“We clashed a bit when we first met,”
recalls Franks.
“No we didn’t,” Swann replies.
“OK then, well you liked me but I hated you.”
The source of the initial antagonism seems
to be Franks’ status as captain of England
Under 15s and his initial refusal to throw
the ball to Swann at key times.
Swann expands: “Franksie was Mansfield’s
angriest man and he didn’t like anybody. I
couldn’t get a bowl when he was running
things because he kept giving the ball
to some lad called Jonny from Essex.
I remember playing Scotland at Old
Edwardians and I got him a wicket in the
final over. That’s when he started liking
me because I made him look like a better
captain than he was.”
Swann recounts the occasion that Andy
Flower bestowed the captaincy upon him
ahead of T20 internationals against West
Indies at The Oval.
“He took me to one side and I knew what
he was going to ask me. I was grinning and
he couldn’t stop laughing so it was rather
different to most conversations of that
nature. My vision for the best way to end my
career is to captain England to an unlikely
victory after injury has ravaged the ranks.”
Bicknell chirps up: “They’ll ask Monty
before they ask you.”
Visit swannybenefityear.com for details
of Graeme Swann’s events. His benefit
magazine is available now at the Trent
Bridge Shop and online at nottsccc.co.uk