Alec James Swann (born 26 October 1976) is a former English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire and Lancashire in county cricket. A right handed batsman, he scored 3,305 first-class runs including eight centuries. He is the older brother of Graeme Swann.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alec James Swann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 October 1976 Northampton, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off Break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Raymond Swann (father) Graeme Swann (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2001 | Northamptonshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Lancashire (squad no. 6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 7 November 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cricket career
editNorthamptonshire
editPrior to making his debut for Northamptonshire Swann had represented England at under-15 level and made appearances for Bedfordshire in the minor counties championship.[1] Having scored centuries for Northamptonshire in consecutive second XI matches at the start of the 1996 season he was given his first-class debut against Oxford University, scoring an unbeaten 76 in the second innings.[2] Later in the season he appeared for England Under-19s against New Zealand before making his County Championship debut against Gloucestershire.[1]
Swann continued to play mostly second XI cricket in 1997 but made two first-class appearances at the end of the season. In the second of these he scored his maiden first-class century, batting at number three against Warwickshire at Edgbaston he made 136.[3] He began the following season in the first team but poor form led to him returning second XI cricket. After scoring three centuries in four innings at that level he returned to the first team where he scored 85 against Kent, this was his only first-class fifty of the season.[1][4]
Swann continued to switch between the first and second team in 1999 although he showed improved form, in 12 first-class matches he scored 573 runs at an average of 31.83. Playing against Nottinghamshire in June he scored a career-best 154 and shared a 217-run partnership with Matthew Hayden in the process, despite this he returned to second XI cricket the following week.[1] He made his List A debut against Nottinghamshire a month later, scoring 74 as opener and again sharing a century partnership with Hayden.[5]
In 2000 Swann made only three first-class appearances and after a poor 2001 season in which he averaged 21.77 from 13 matches he was released by the club.[4][6]
Lancashire
editIn January 2002 Swann was signed by Lancashire to strengthen their batting options following the retirement of Mike Atherton.[7] Swann was a regular opener during the 2002 season playing 18 first-class matches and scoring 1,073 runs at 37.00.[4] His tally was the first and only time he reached a 1,000 runs in a season and included two centuries, both against Yorkshire. Innings of 128 and 111 made him the first Lancastrian to score centuries in his first two Roses matches.[8]
The following two seasons were less successful for Swann, in 15 first-class matches he scored 467 runs at 21.22.[4] He was released by the club at the end of 2004 season.[9]
Post playing career
editPost cricket, Swann embarked on a career as a journalist as the sports correspondent of the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.[10] Between 2014 and 2016, he was head of production and planning for The Cricketer magazine.[11] Since 2020, he has acted as a match referee in English county cricket.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Player Oracle: AJ Swann, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Oxford University v Northamptonshire, University Match 1996, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Warwickshire v Northamptonshire, Britannic Assurance County Championship 1997, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ a b c d First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Alec Swann, CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire, National Westminster Bank Trophy 1999 (4th Round), CricketArchive, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Taylor one of three released by Northamptonshire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Alec Swann Signs for Lancashire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Swann glides into record books, The Independent, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ Alec Swann leaves Lancashire, Cricinfo, Retrieved on 4 August 2009
- ^ "Media Updates – UK – 16th April 2010". Cision. 16 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ "Editors of The Cricketer". The Cricketer. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "ECB expands Match Referee Panel". ECB. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2024.