• England in India

Swann hails 'magician' Monty

ESPN staff
November 28, 2012
Monty Panesar sparkled with 11 wickets in Mumbai © Getty Images
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Graeme Swann claims he is happy to play second fiddle to Monty Panesar, provided England keep on winning.

After a defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad that had many criticising the team, England hit back to level the series with India in Mumbai.

Panesar sat out the first Test, but responded with 11 wickets in the match in Mumbai and Swann has described him as a magician.

"Monty bowled like a magician and I was more than happy to support him," Swann wrote in his column in the Sun. "I'm so happy that Monty took 11 wickets and performed so well. With ball in hand, he has a lovely, rhythmic, repeatable action.

"I've always been an advocate of playing two spinners in sub-continental conditions. I think myself and Monty complement each other well.

"It is harder for batsmen when the ball is spinning away. So Monty is a huge threat against the right-handers and he almost leaves the left-handers to me. It works really well.

"I don't mind one bit that Monty took more wickets than me. All that matters is that the team won. Mind you, I'd always be happy to pay second fiddle if I took eight wickets - including my 200th in Test cricket - every time!

"Our 10-wicket win in Mumbai must rank as one of the finest of my England career. I'm not going to say it was better than our victories by an innings in Melbourne and Sydney a couple of winters ago, but it was a real cracker bearing in mind the circumstances. Few people gave us a chance following our defeat in the first Test."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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