Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann. Credit: Getty Images

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has recalled his team’s memorable Test series win in India in 2012. The spin legend drew comparisons between England’s win in India and the 2010 Ashes triumph in Australia. He went on to rate the victory in India as a bigger achievement because he could live up to expectations as a spinner in sub-continent conditions.

The tour had started on a bad note for England as India won the series-opener in Ahmedabad. However, the tourists bounced back in style to win the next two games and draw the final Test to clinch the series 2-1. It was England’s first Test series win in India in 28 years.

Similarly, the Ashes win in Australia in 2010/11 was also special for England. The Andrew Struass-led side had won the series 3–1 and retained the Ashes. It was England’s first Ashes series win in Australia in 24 years.

Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann (Credits: Twitter)

Graeme Swann, however, rates the win in India more special. England’s most-successful England spinner of all time said the 2012 win was the biggest achievement in his career as nobody gave England a chance of beating India in India.

He had bagged 20 wickets in the 4 Tests to finish as the joint-highest wicket taker alongside India’s left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Swann’s spin-twin Monty Panesar was the next-best bowler with 17 wickets from 3 games.

“I remember thinking to myself ‘We’ve actually come to India and won a Test series’. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I expected to do well personally, I backed myself to get wickets and wanted to get into battles with the best players in the world, and wanted to try and win a few of those battles. And I managed to do that, Monty at the other end bowled beautifully as well.

Read More  Riyan Parag to play for India in T20 World Cup? Former Indian all-rounder drops a bold prediction

“It was one of those series where everything went well for us after the 1st Test. Honestly when I look back at my whole career, it is possibly my greatest achievement winning in India because of what it meant to be as a spin bowler.

“I mean we went to Australia and won in 2010 (The Ashes) but I didn’t have to do much to be honest. I just watched Alastair Cook score a 1000 runs and Jimmy Anderson take all the wickets. But that series in India is still one of the fondest periods of my entire career,” Swann said on the Sony Ten Pit Stop show.

Also Read: Gary Kirsten Reveals Heartwarming Gesture From MS Dhoni After He Was Denied Entry In Flight School For Team Event

Also Read:  If Babar Azam Scores In England, Then No One Will Be Able To Catch Him: Mudassar Nazar