In an exclusive interview with All Out Cricket, England’s spin king Graeme Swann tells Jo Harman all about his new DVD, Swanny In A Spin, which is hitting the shelves on November 14.
So Graeme, what’s Swanny In A Spin all about?
It’s a light-hearted irreverent look at cricket, basically. It’s famous clips from down the years and my favourite parts of cricket, whether it’s Dennis Lillee having a fight with Javed Miandad or seagulls getting smashed by cricket balls. It’s just good fun.
Did you have a big say when it came to choosing the footage?
Yeah, a lot of it was mine. It was in collaboration with the DVD company and they had ideas of what to do and so did I. But I’m very obstinate and I just argued the case until nearly all of my stuff was in!
Had you done voiceover work before?
No, I’d not, but having just done it for four hours, I think I’m a natural. When I left the sound booth a guy got me to sign a table which had been previously signed by both Ian McKellen and Ewan McGregor.
Any plans to follow in McKellen’s footsteps and join the RSC?
Probably not, but if Patrick Stewart can do the Money Supermarket adverts then I’ll think I try and poach that gig off him.
Do you think cricket lends itself to a DVD like this?
Yeah, it’s eccentric, isn’t it? When you look at cricket, it’s five days of sport with potentially no result watched by people getting drunk for nine hours a day. There’s bound to be a few funny things happening! I think it does lend itself because it’s classically British in its origins and most of the funny things that occur in the game tend to happen around the England team and the England fans. Considering how much alcohol is consumed at grounds, there’s so much scope for funny things to happen.
Who’s the funniest player you’ve played alongside?
That’s tricky actually. There’s David Hussey at Nottingham who always makes me laugh out loud. He comes across as really serious on the field and that’s what’s so funny about him, no one knows what a lunatic he is. Standing next to him at slip he just makes me laugh out loud but I’m probably the only person in the world who’ll say that about him.
And off the field?
I’m a bit of a bully; I like laughing at people who are a bit stupid. A couple of the England lads come out with some daft comments. Good old Brezzy [Tim Bresnan], he’s not thick but he comes out with the thickest things you’ve ever heard every now and again. When we flew from India to Sri Lanka he claimed we hadn’t flown over any water to get there. Which would be quite a feat.
Does a bit of comic relief help take the pressure off when you’re playing?
Yeah, I think so but I tend to be fairly serious on the field. In one-day games you have to be because you don’t get to stand next to anyone and talk, but Test cricket is a bit different because I stand next to Straussy and Matt Prior all day. Straussy is normally concentrating on the game but it’s always good to have a bit of a joke with him now and again. He’s actually a very funny bloke, Straussy. No one would actually think it listening to his interviews but he comes out with a few corkers on the field.
You’ve had a stint as Twenty20 captain recently. Did you have to tone down the jokes?
Yes and no. I still can’t help being myself in the dressing room but there are certain times. When you’ve actually arrived for the game it’s all very serious but after the game you tend to find a bit more comic relief coming out.
Click here to order your copy of Swanny In A Spin on Amazon.
