Graeme Swann contacted by ECB to work with colts

Reports from ESPN Cricinfo go on to suggest that Graeme Swann has been contacted by Peter Such, England’s spin bowling coach at the moment to work with the England junior team, especially the U19s. Swann has been doing a lot of media work since his retirement. The 37-year old is also arguably the best off-spinner England has produced since Jim Laker, claiming 255 wickets in the 60 Test matches that he did play in.

Previously Alastair Cook had quashed rumors about Swann’s involvement with the England side stating that the former offie’s media commitments were too much to take on such a role. Since his retirement midway through the 2013 edition of the Ashes in Australia, 37-year old Graeme Swann has been working closely with both BBC Sport as well as BT Sport. However, despite the comments made by Cook, Swann has often stated his interest in a coaching role with the England side, offering to help spin bowlers especially when they travel to overseas spinning conditions.

The ECB has flirted with coaches as well as consultants for some time with a few legends of the recent past roped in to help the England spin bowlers. The most recent of these coaches has been former Pakistan off-spin bowler Saqlain Mushtaq who joined up with the England side a few days prior to the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford. He will stay on a short-term basis until the ECB and Peter Such find a suitable replacement for the same.

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Former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori has performed a similar role for the Brits in the past while former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has also served in a consulting role for a couple of years before stepping down to accept the Pakistan bowling coach role. Saqlain Mushtaq, the incumbent consultant spinner is expected to serve his role and work with both Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid until the English winter. However, the former Pakistan spinner may well not be granted a visa into India, which is where Graeme Swann enters the picture.

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