Kiwis will be tough opponents
We’ve been in New Zealand for just over a week and having now adjusted to the time difference, and following the intense training sessions and tactical team meetings, we can’t wait to get started.
We kick off with two Twenty20s this week ahead of the five-match one-day series and, coming here on the back of an last November – which no-one outside of the squad expected I’m sure - we’re determined to keep this England side on the upward curve.
We want to be the best side in the world in one-day and Test cricket and the only way to do that is to go and beat teams in their own backyard – that continues here.
It has been quite intense since we arrived – it had to be with only eight days before the first match – but that doesn’t mean we haven't had the opportunity to have some down time and bond as a team.
One of the best things about this squad is that there are no big egos and no cliques so, just as it was for me joining the set-up in Sri Lanka, the new boys coming in have settled really quickly.
We’ve trained really hard to get ourselves ready for the tour ahead, but it is equally important to enjoy time away from the game. I think I’d go absolutely stir crazy if I were to live, breathe, eat and drink cricket 100% of the time.
Luckily, I like a laugh, doing the odd impression and singing and what not, so I always seem to find myself at the centre of whatever’s going on – which is brilliant, and the atmosphere between the lads is really good.
But I try not to overdo it and annoy anyone because I think you either love or hate my ‘entertainment’ skills – I don’t want to end up getting a smack on the chops off one of the boys for my troubles!
That said, I am lending a hand to James Anderson with the guitar. I’m self taught and I wouldn’t claim to be the next (of the Stone Roses), but I’m helping Jimmy towards becoming the next guitar hero so that’s all good!
We had a good team meal at the start of the tour to help settle everyone in and get the squad bonded, an excellent opportunity for us all to get the banter and camaraderie going.
We know what we’re here to do, though, and that’s kick off the tour with wins in the Twenty20 internationals and then the one-dayers.
I’ve spent quite a lot of time in New Zealand; I’ve played club cricket out here and it’s kind of like a home from home, so I know what they have to offer as opponents, as do the rest of the boys.
Some of their more experienced players, Shane Bond and Stephen Fleming, won’t be involved in the one-dayers, while , and I won’t deny that’s a fillip for us. But they have a lot of talented players and they’re going to be a very difficult side to play against.
Kicking off in front of a 45,000 crowd in will be the perfect place for us to get this tour going in style and, after two excellent warm-up wins already, the boys know how important it can be to get off to a good start.
If we can do that with victory on Tuesday, it can really set the tone for the rest of the tour.
Anyway, in future columns I’ll be endeavouring to answer any questions you might have so drop them in below and I’ll address the best (and the worst!) of them.
Cheers,
Graeme.
Graeme Swann was talking to Sam Lyon
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Graeme, how much of a threat do you think the ICLs (and similar competitions which are bound to follow) are to the 'established' cricket order? I sense the early signs of players 'retiring' left, right and centre safe in the knowledge that a huge pay day is surely just around the corner (Shane Bond and Scott Styris being the latest). Have you been approached and would you be tempted, being as you are something of a 'fringe' player (no offence!) and thus not guaranteed regular international-level pay?
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Nice to start for the blog there mr swann.
My question to you is
Do you have ambitions to play for england's test match side? After your performances for the One day side in sri lanka, i think you have now become our no1 spinner in that form of the game. Do you think you can dislodge monty from the test side to?
Good luck for the tour.
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Hi Graeme, being on tour with all the lads surely has to have some quality moments you cant talk about here but when you're down to the business side of things, what sort of preparations are done regarding fitness/food/drinks? Do you have the specialised water based drinks with extra stuff in them etc?
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Good to hear that the team is bonding well as I think that is a major obstacle in being a sucessful team. I hope Graeme gets a chance to show everyone what he is capable of and I wish him and the rest of the boys the best of luck, lets hope the tour is a massive success!!
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Hi Graham! Hope you get round to doing an impression of Jim Laker on this tour. (I'm referring to his ten wicket bowling stint not the fact he's not here any more!!) Anyway my question is this; Is it easier to spin a white ball more than the conventional red one?
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Good luck in new zealand graeme.
Do you see yourself as a allrounder or as a bowler who can bat? also, why do you think that monty struggles in ODIs? Is it because of a lack of experience, loack of variation or trying to be too defensive and stem the flow of runs?
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Intresting to hear frm u Swanny. NZ are as you've said still a major side in international cricket and although they've lost Bond, Scotty Styris, Nathan Astle they are still a good side and in ODI's very dangerous. Remember this was a side that this time last year beat Australia 3-0 in ODI's chasing over 330 twice to win. The young batsman Jesse Ryder who got called up could be a great international player and they've also got a chap called Ross Taylor who suffers abit from cramp but is a good young prospect.
As for yourself Swanny, you shud be bowling in all the ODI's and T20's. Your bowling was good in Sri Lanka and in my view you shud've played some parts in the Tests especially wiv Monty struggling. Im not saying you'd have done any better or worse but perhaps you can play a test in NZ as well.
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Hi Graham,
Do you or any of the boys have any plans to pin Ryan Sidebottom down and cut that ridiculous barnet of his?
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Will you be taking the opportunity of adding a few Split Enz/Crowded House songs to your repertoire whilst in New Zealand?
Looking forward to reading your columns, and good luck for the tour.
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Hi there,
in the few days before a one-day match? Is it lots of intensive training or a few light sessions?
Good luck on the tour
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Alright Swanny!
Was just wondering how much harder it is to play cricket in the sub-continent? And also, apart from you, who is the biggest joker in the dressing room?
P.s watched the video of your band. Not bad mate! kinda....
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swanny
in india a few years ago they boys adopted 'ring of fire' as their theme song.
Has a tune been nominated for this tour?
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Hello Mate,
I find it really interesting reading through what you guys go through on tour. Makes me very jealous though! Just wondered who you are room sharing with on this tour? Any annoying habits?!
Good luck mate,
Mark
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Pleased to see you on the Beeb blog. Didn't Matt Prior have a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ column? I'd keep my thumbs out of the way of Peter Moores just in case....
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Hey Swanny,
You say that there are no big ego's in the team - is KP not playing then?
Jon
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RE James' Martin's comment - please don't do anything to Mr Sidebottom's hair - its gorgeous!
Good luck tomorrow.
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Ceci (message 12) - as Matt Prior wasn't selected for the current tour, we had to look for another columnist. We're very pleased to have Graeme on board.
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good to hear you and your mates are having a good time on your holidays...
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I don't beleive it! They have given you a blog on the beeb website! Well Swanny, I hope you make good use of this and keep us all informed on the crazy antics that you lot will most likely get up to (whilst you are not training of course!)
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What do the current squad think about the recent cash injection in to England Cricket? Also, Which initiative do you personally believe will benefit English cricket overall?
Have a great tour!
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sorry graeme but this tour preparation doesn't sound any different to any other over-seas tour.
i'd like to see some variation in how we approach these forthcoming matches.
nice warm up games though.
keep up the hard work.
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Nice to see the boys over here again, I stopped off in New Zealand 6 yrs ago to watch England V Black caps, and never left!!!.
So you boys going to be out on the beer after beating the Black caps???
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If the English team is to beat New Zealand let alone Australia in next year's Ashes series it needs to work harder on its fielding, develop a mentality that once a batsman gets to 50 he should go on to a century and beyond, bowl in the right spots all the time and rid themselves of tendencies toward "imitation- Aussie" sledging and other such forms of cheating like the childish throwing of jellybeans on the wicket. They need to develop players like Ray Illingworth nad John Snow used to be - uncompromising and tough. They should also change a system that permits a captain (Vaughan) who barely ever makes a decent score nowadays to be automatically selected. Those who are equivocal about being in the England team because of homesickness, etc. are just not hard enough and should be retired to the gentle, soft green pastures of county cricket.
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leave ryans hair alone that is his MOJO.
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Lets pull our fingers out, beat NZ, thats the least you can do, let KP, Cooky and Belly loose. We cant get humiliated by Wales and NZ in a matter of days, come on Swanny.
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Graeme,
Who's the better guitarist - John Squire or Noel Gallagher?
Good luck on the tour.
Patrick
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Is there nobody in the current Emngland set-up who enjoys music of the non-pop variety? Tonight I went to a jazz session at the Cricketers Club in London. In the audience appreciating some fine music were the current and imediate past President of the MCC, Messrs Brearley and Insole. So Graeme, broaden your musical horzons away from John Squitre and you'll be President of the MCC in 2050.
Good luck on the tour.
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It will be a tough series, of course not like Aussie, but still hard to leave with more wins than losses.
It is a beautiful hot day here in Auckland and about to leave for Eden Park with a belly full of beer and hopefully good voice!
Let's restore some pride in the Southern Hemisphere!
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well Graeme, hope to see ya in Wellington. I'm sure you guys will enjoy this tour. New Zealand is a great country to travel around. Hope you guys get to catch the sights while you can - there's plenty of them wherever you go. Just don't beat our boys and there'll be a few drinks at the Loaded Hog on Courteney Place!
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Greeting Graeme, Hope all is well. Being a fan of you, and the England Cricket Team, I would like to ask you a few questions.... Firstly whats Kev's personality like in the dressing room???, and do u guys miss my hero Freddie??...
Best of luck for the tour, and give my regards to the team..
Freddie Zina
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Hi Graeme! Congratulations ! :)
u guys really played well today and it was indeed a very enjoyable match. we fans here in Bangladesh enjoyed every minute of the game.
my question is who is ur best mate in the the team? and when we shall be able to watch our guitar heroes( u and Jimmy) performing together?
if u read this plz plz answer my questions.
Best of luck for the next match and the rest of the tour.
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Though it may be not much a problem for the spinners, the nicks to fine third man and leg-byes to fine leg are often very expensive. Has anyone considered resorting to the old fashioned positio of long stop to cut these off? One athletic fielder would be able to cover both sides of the wicket. Good luck with the rest of the NZ tour.
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Hi Graeme.
What is the highlight of your career so far? Any disappointments along the way? lets be honest.
Keep them turning and we will have them in the bag. By the way your batting is good as well.
All the best.
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Hi Graeme
Can you do an impression of an England rugby player and jump on a plane to Italy please ?
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Hi Graeme.
What is the highlight of your career so far? Any disappointments along the way? lets be honest.
Keep them turning and we will have them in the bag. By the way your batting is good as well.
All the best.
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Hi graeme,
I read somewhere that england cricketers enjoying playing the ps2 on tour. Who from the current squad is best at the cricket games like Brian Lara cricket and Cricket 07?
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No big egos? Are you serious?
If the England team could play as well as they think they can, they'd be geniuses (or is that genii?)
With a bit of luck this tour will provide a poor England team with the opportunity to build confidence against a poor NZ team so they can cement their place at about 5th in the world in all forms of the game.
To be the best you have to be driven, the sort of person who brings out the big game when in difficulty. Now lets see, who in this team can do that - er, no-one.
The Sri Lanka tour said it all.
Confidence players who do well when things go their way will always get defeated over time by tough characters who find a way to win on the bad days. We don't seem to breed them like that in the UK, must be something in the water.
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Swanny!
Good to hear about the exploits of the team. Good luck and best wishes to you and everyone on this tour from all at Blisworth Mill.
Cheers, Simon - Flat 1
ps your flats leaking! ;o)
pps any chance of a signed bat for my son?
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Goodday Graeme, Atleast it's midday in RSA but well done to England didn't expectt them to win but really doesn't England mis freddy?
Hope you win the ODI's & don't get big headed it's just hit and smash T20 win!!
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Many congratulations......got myself late for work this morning wanted to watch the match!
Good luck for thursday
P.S. Please pass on many congratulations to KP who recently got married....wishing him and his wife many many years of happiness
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Hi Graeme,
Congratulations on today's win.
I was wondering, who in the NZ team will England be looking to make big plans for stopping? Who is the main threat to the England, in your opinion, in both the ODI's and the Tests?
Cheers mate,
Andy
P.S. Could you have a word with James Anderson or one of the quick's for me, Jesse Ryder broke my toe last year playing against me in club cricket, and I wouldn't mind seeing him hurt the way I was after that ball!
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If any of the lads want to have a day off in Taranaki and New Plymouth please come and see the famous Pukeriki Park ground. Or ask Jacob Oram how many sixes he has hit there!
All the best
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An indian cricket I might be,loyal and honest I ought to be.I beleive the once flawless New Zealand has such a challenge,a competition!Lower the ranking of New Zealand maybe-who knows,the power they ought to have thee!I am mortified about the perfomance happening in Australia(Australia Vs Sri Lanka Vs India)!Indians players have played well,but in a random order...I beleive Sri Lankan team will strike again and get whatever is left over the defences of Australia!
Most sincerely,A Indian Loyal Player
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An indian cricket I might be,loyal and honest I ought to be.I beleive the once flawless New Zealand has such a challenge,a competition!Lower the ranking of New Zealand maybe-who knows,the power they ought to have thee!I am mortified about the perfomance happening in Australia(Australia Vs Sri Lanka Vs India)!Indians players have played well,but in a random order...I beleive Sri Lankan team will strike again and get whatever is left over the defences of Australia!
Most sincerely,A Indian Loyal Player
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An indian cricket I might be,loyal and honest I ought to be.I beleive the once flawless New Zealand has such a challenge,a competition!Lower the ranking of New Zealand maybe-who knows,the power they ought to have thee!I am mortified about the perfomance happening in Australia(Australia Vs Sri Lanka Vs India)!Indians players have played well,but in a random order...I beleive Sri Lankan team will strike again and get whatever is left over the defences of Australia!
Most sincerely,A Indian Loyal Player
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Greetings o' spin king !
What a great way to start a tour! A quick look at the England squad shows only James Anderson as the weak link in the batting line up.But hey! he can bowl really well on his day with a safe pair of hands out in the field. Your led by a North Eastern lad(salt of the earth)so how can you fail?
good luck & bring home the bacon
Robert
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Hi Graeme,
Well done on the win at Eden Park, im just writing to say sorry about all the crap you got from the terrices at eden park and how you took your hat off and bowed haha that was class.
and well batted
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Ryan Sidebottom's hair? Anyone who dares to be an individual in this impoverished day and age has to have something about them, and his bowling proves that. Spikes and highlights just say: 'fashion victim'.
Good luck with the tour, but just remember: playing for England has to be only the beginning of your road. Being the best team in the world and staying there is when you become REAL celebrities. Go for that!
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Hi graeme,
just wonderin before a game, how many hours would you say you bat in nets and how many do you bowl? Good luck on Thursday.
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Hi Graeme,
I was just wonderin in the week running up to a game how many hours do you think you bat in nets and how long do you think you bowl. Well done for the win on tuesday.
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people please leave ryans hair alone so what its ginger and he looks like sideshow bob but my sister thinks he is cute and wants to know if mr sidebottom has a wife or girl friend
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hey!
haha lets hope that james anderson will become the next guitar hero! so wat songs do you know to play on the guitar?
anyway good luck for the next matches!
congrats on todays win!
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HELLO AGAIN
Thats the way to do it!!
got hold of the game by the scruff of it's neck & shook it. Won both 20/20s in style.
Now lets step it up in ODI series & win that 5-0
congrats Robert
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Hi Graem
Good to read your comments - time for another posting methinks.
Congratulations on the 20/20 success and lets hope we can carry this into the 50 over series.
Please pass my greetings onto Luke Wright and tell him everyone here at SCCC are rooting for him. Was great to see him clobbering an entertaining 30 yesterday.
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I agree with the comments about leaving Sidebottom's hair alone. I happen to know the chap who posted the original, slanderous comment and he's only jealous because his hair resembles Tintin's.
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Reference to Steve Kings Comment -
I would appreciate you keeping out of the discussion on Ryan's out of control bouffon - I regrettably happen to know the troubles you have had with your hair over the years. May I Remind you that you have wavered from Giggs to Krusty and then onto your current 'style' aka Lego head.
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O Dear,O Dear!
In a competion with watching paint drying that English performance would have come 2nd!
Give each other a good slap & move on
mmmmmmmmm Robert
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COME ON ENGLAND IF YOU CAN SCORE 190+ IN 20-OVERS WHATS THIS 130 ABOUT? IN 50-OVERS?
MAYBE PLAY IT AS A 20/20 YOU CAN'T DO ANY WORSE!
BRING BACK WRIGHT & MASCAR & TURN IT ON
GOOD LUCK FOR TUESDAY
REGARDS ROBERT
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Hello everyone,
Thanks a lot for all your comments - I will be writing my new blog up for Monday next week so keep your questions coming and I will endeavour to answer the best of them.
Cheers,
GS.
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What's Peter Moores like in the dressing room following a defeat? Is he a teacup-throwing Alex Ferguson, an emotional Kevin Keegan, or a soft-talking philosophical Sven?
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Graeme, Do you think it was a harsh call by the management to drop you for the third odi, you were one of the star players in sri lanka, and had only bowled five overs thanks to the batsmen performing you badly.
Hope to see you back for the next game anyway
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Hey Graeme,
Being an expat over here in NZ I'm just loving the England Boys being here.
What did you think of Christchurch? I hope Denise Van Outen does follow you here, she's welcome to stay at mine...
Looking forward to seeing you beat the Black Caps in the next two ODI games...
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