Jovial Swann relishes England captaincy

Graeme Swann will have to ditch some of his wisecracks to make sure he fits the bill as England captain.

Swann has become English cricket’s national treasure, not just for his world-beating off-breaks but his unaffected humour with team-mates and the public alike. He knows he should perhaps put his role as team comedian on hold, though, after being chosen to deputise for injured captain Stuart Broad in the 14-man squad announced yesterday to take on West Indies in two Twenty20s next week.

Swann is not about to undergo a full-scale personality overhaul because he knows what works for him and England. But he accepts the need to adapt a little as he takes charge of a squad of emerging players which contains two potential debutants in Jonny Bairstow and Danny Briggs. “It’s a Twenty20 series with a lot of young lads, so I’ll have to change the way I am from the Test side,” said the 32-year-old, who will first of all remain in the ranks as England conclude their victorious NatWest Series against India in Cardiff tomorrow. “I’m very much the joker in the Test side. I’m there for a stupid quip at the end of the session – that’s part of my role. But that’s a very settled side, with everyone knowing their place. With this Twenty20, I’d naturally have to be more grown-up and mature about things anyway.”

Being captain as well will be a helpful reminder to Swann not to get carried away when he sees the funny side. “It’ll probably help if I have an armband around me – it’ll make sure I won’t slip up,” he said. “But I don’t intend to be deadly serious and change what makes me the player I am. I believe a fairly high-spirited approach has made me the cricketer I am. I’ll certainly look to keep that going within my own game and if that’s infectious to others, then great.”

In the absence not only of Broad and fellow shoulder injury victim and official vice-captain Eoin Morgan but also the rested Kevin Pietersen – and no return yet to the shortest format for one-day international captain Alastair Cook – there is a decidedly youthful look to England’s group of Twenty20 hopefuls.

Swann said: “It’s obviously a case of being fairly mature in the changing room, because we’ve got a few young guys who’ve not played before and need to have at least a semi-sensible role model to look up to. But I’ll be looking to still inject my own brand of energy into the team, and hope that will come off.”

As for the jokes, he added: “I think they’ll stop to a certain extent. But most people who see me on the field realise I’m not that funny out there anyway – I’m as grumpy as anyone – so I’ll probably have to lighten up if anything ...”

Swann has proved many times he can get serious when necessary, and he was straight-faced and sincere about his reaction to being chosen to captain his country for the first time.

“It’s a great honour,” he said. “When you get asked to do it, in whatever circumstances, it makes you proud. I’m delighted.

“Naturally I thought about it when Broady wasn’t going to play. I looked down and thought, ‘Who’s going to do it? I wouldn’t mind!’. You don’t dare to think it will be, because I’m not one for setting myself up for a fall.

“It was great when (coach) Andy (Flower) asked me – a very nice surprise.”