Ten-wicket Swann thanks surgeon for saving career

LEEDS, United Kingdom (AFP) –

England’s Graeme Swann celebrates taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson during the fourth day’s play in the second cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at Headingly in Leeds on May 27, 2013. Swann thanked surgeon Shawn O’Driscoll for saving his career after his Test-best match haul saw England to a crushing win over New Zealand.

Graeme Swann thanked surgeon Shawn O’Driscoll for saving his career after his Test-best match haul saw England to a crushing win over New Zealand.

Off-spinner Swann’s second innings six for 90 at Headingley gave him a match return of 10 for 132 which propelled England to a 247-run win in the second Test on Tuesday and a 2-0 series victory.

However, the 34-year-old Swann missed the three-match Test series between the two sides in New Zealand, which ended in a 0-0 draw in March, while he recovered from an elbow operation.

Surgery in the United States under the guidance of O’Driscoll, who also treated England seamer Tim Bresnan for a similar injury, proved a success and man-of-the-match Swann was duly grateful.

“The elbow feels great, I’m very thankful to the surgeon Shawn O’Driscoll – he probably saved my career, good man,” Swann told Sky Sports.

Swann was left out of the corresponding Headingley Test against South Africa last year, when England opted for an all seam attack.

This match saw Swann, whose match figures were the best by a spinner in a Headingley Test since England’s Derek Underwood took 10 for 82 against Australia in 1972, gain from the rough created by New Zealand left-arm seamers Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.

“The world should have left-armers in their team, left-hand batsmen or bowlers, it’s better for me,” Swann said.

Joe Root, whose first innings 104 on his Headingley home ground was his maiden Test hundred, was named England’s man-of-the-series after making 71 in the hosts’ 170-run first Test win at Lord’s.

“Obviously it’s great for Rooty to get a hundred,” said England captain Alastair Cook, whose second innings 130 saw him extend his own England Test century record to 25.

“It was a fantastic hundred in pretty tough batting conditions that first day, it swung all day.

“Swanny has done it for a few years for us now and to get 10 wickets here was a great effort.”

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum admitted his side’s batting had not been up to scratch.

“The gulf between the two teams was exposed in this Test,” he said. “We certainly had the bowling attack where we knew we could take English wickets and it was a matter of us being able to produce the runs that were required.

“I think it was a combination between high-class bowling from the England bowlers and also our boys just struggled a touch with the bat to get that high score that was required.”

Tim Southee, named New Zealand’s man-of-the-series, with 12 wickets at an average of under 20 apiece, said the bowling attack was starting to gel as a unit.

“We get on well and we’re all still pretty young, so hopefully it’s something we can work with for the future,” he said.

“The batters are trying and their day will come as well, hopefully we can get it together and keep improving as a Test side.”