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Fanzine always looms large in the game, with it bubbling over in English quarters when the name of Graeme Swann was brought up during the Ashes build up.
In their eyes, it was not a question of whether he would be a factor in the series, but only a case of how comprehensibly he would dominate.
As always with the deceptive nature of any type of hysteria, it is challenged by reality.
In this case, an average of 40.12 in his previous 10 Ashes Tests seems to indicate that Swann is more hype than anything else. Which is a tad unfair, when most good judges would rate Swann as a very accomplished and big hearted spinner with his career record of 226 wickets at an average of 28.12 bearing testimony to this.
But a very mediocre record against Australia compels you to firstly ask ‘why’, and then follow up by querying whether he can indeed turn around his fortunes in this series.
In my opinion both are linked with the key point being Swann’s embrace of traditional methods in an age where unorthodox variations challenge all batsmen. And having the same variations is seen as a must in any successful off-spinner’s kit bag.
Swann’s success defies this notion, with him being a throwback through his reliance on his expert use of flight coupled with guileful changes in pace. His only variation being his delightful arm-ball, which gains great respect from the purists, but allows the opposition to prey on his limitations because of the absence of a ‘doosra’.
This has been the case against the Aussies in the past with them having their way against him because of his lack of variety. You only have to view the Aussies struggles against all the current bunch of offies with lethal ‘doosras’ to understand that they are all at sea against any type of unorthodox spinner.
It was indelibly seen in India, where Ravichandran Ashwin ripped them to ribbons with 29 wickets at an average of 20.10. Ashwin ruled the Aussies, not only through the use of his ‘doosra’ and ‘Carrom ball’, but also the seeds of doubt that they sowed in the batsman’s mind. The doubts centred around when these variations were coming and how to play them, making his stock ball all the more lethal.
Back to the now and Swann, where his first Test figures of 165/4 on a pitch tailor-made for him hardly inspired hopes of a turn around.
Compelling was the Aussies’ mindset against him, where you sensed respect, but no fear at all. This was facilitated because of their past deeds against him, but also their comfort zone against his traditional style. The fact that they had the better of Swann once more will only feed this confidence, inspiring further freedom of play against him. You bore witness to this already with both debutante Ashton Agar and Brad Haddin taking the long handle against him.
Heaven help him, if he has to face a noted mauler of spin in Michael Clarke with the game in Pup’s favour during this series.
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