Alec Swann

Alec Swann
Personal information
Full name Alec James Swann
Born 26 October 1976
Northampton, England
Batting style Right Handed
Bowling style Right Arm Off Break
Role Opening/Middle Order Batsman
Relations Raymond Swann (father), Graeme Swann (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1996–2001 Northamptonshire
2002–2004 Lancashire (squad no. 6)
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 77 55 4
Runs scored 3305 1081 86
Batting average 27.77 27.02 43.00
100s/50s 8/14 0/7 0/1
Top score 154 83* 56
Balls bowled 567 54
Wickets 6
Bowling average 54.33
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/30
Catches/stumpings 56/- 12/- 1/-
Source: Cricinfo, 7 November 2009

Alec James Swann (born 26 October 1976 in Northampton) is a former English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire and Lancashire in county cricket. A right hand batsman, he scored 3,305 first-class runs including eight centuries. He is the older brother of Graeme Swann and is currently the cricket correspondent of the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.[1]

Cricket career

Northamptonshire

Prior to making his debut for Northamptonshire Swann had represented England at under-15 level and made appearances for Bedfordshire in the minor counties championship.[2] Having scored centuries for Northamptonshire in consecutive second XI matches at the start of the 1996 season he was given his first-class debut against Oxford University, scoring an unbeaten 76 in the second innings.[3] Later in the season he appeared for England Under-19s against New Zealand before making his County Championship debut against Gloucestershire.[2]

Swann continued to play mostly second XI cricket in 1997 but made two first-class appearances at the end of the season. In the second of these he scored his maiden first-class century, batting at number three against Warwickshire at Edgbaston he made 136.[4] He began the following season in the first team but poor form led to him returning second XI cricket. After scoring three centuries in four innings at that level he returned to the first team where he scored 85 against Kent, this was his only first-class fifty of the season.[2][5]

Swann continued to switch between the first and second team in 1999 although he showed improved form, in 12 first-class matches he scored 573 runs at an average of 31.83. Playing against Nottinghamshire in June he scored a career-best 154 and shared a 217-run partnership with Matthew Hayden in the process, despite this he returned to second XI cricket the following week.[2] He made his List A debut against Nottinghamshire a month later, scoring 74 as opener and again sharing a century partnership with Hayden.[6]

In 2000 Swann made only three first-class appearances and after a poor 2001 season in which he averaged 21.77 from 13 matches he was released by the club.[5][7]

Lancashire

In January 2002 Swann was signed by Lancashire to strengthen their batting options following the retirement of Mike Atherton.[8] Swann was a regular opener during the 2002 season playing 18 first-class matches and scoring 1,073 runs at 37.00.[5] His tally was the first and only time he reached a 1,000 runs in a season and included two centuries, both against Yorkshire. Innings of 128 and 111 made him the first Lancastrian to score centuries in his first two Roses matches.[9]

The following two seasons were less successful for Swann, in 15 first-class matches he scored 467 runs at 21.22.[5] He was released by the club at the end of 2004 season.[10]

References

  1. "Media Updates – UK – 16th April 2010". Cision. 16 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Player Oracle: AJ Swann, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  3. Oxford University v Northamptonshire, University Match 1996, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  4. Warwickshire v Northamptonshire, Britannic Assurance County Championship 1997, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Alec Swann, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  6. Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire, National Westminster Bank Trophy 1999 (4th Round), CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  7. Taylor one of three released by Northamptonshire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  8. Alec Swann Signs for Lancashire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  9. Swann glides into record books, Independent, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
  10. Alec Swann leaves Lancashire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009

External links