Graeme Swann will spend the next week working with three of England’s best young spinners in the UAE after his success as Trent Rockets’ spin-bowling coach in the Hundred. The ECB announced on Friday that Swann would spend a week working as a mentor during the Lions’ training camp, which starts on Sunday.
Swann’s involvement with England has been limited since his sudden retirement from international cricket in 2013 and he has often expressed his frustration that he has not spent more time working with young spinners developing through the English system.
But he was a popular member of support staff in the Hundred this year, working closely with Samit Patel, Matt Carter,
Rashid Khan and
Tabraiz Shamsi as the Rockets won the title.
There are three frontline spin bowlers involved in the Lions training group in
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire legspinning allrounder, Sussex offspinner
Jack Carson, and Nottinghamshire allrounder
Liam Patterson-White, while
Dan Lawrence is also an occasional offspinner with three Test wickets to his name.
Ian Bell, Swann’s former England team-mate, is also part of the Lions coaching staff and will work with the training group’s batters, along with Surrey assistant coach Jim Troughton. Jon Lewis and Durham’s Neil Killeen will work with the seamers and Kent’s Min Patel will be the main spin-bowling coach.
“In Ian Bell and Graeme Swann, we have two people with so much international experience,” Mo Bobat, the ECB’s performance director who will lead the tour, said. “It’s brilliant to have them as part of the group, and I know everyone will be looking forward to working with them.
“It’s a really exciting staff team for a trip that I think will be of huge benefit to all of our players. There’s a wide range of experience to call upon, from across the game, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone come together this weekend.”
