GRAEME Swann could be forgiven his mixed feelings after going past the great Jim Laker as England’s most prolific off-spinner, on a day when India put an early stamp on the Test series.

Swann’s second wicket of four on day one of the first Test at the Sardar Patel Stadium took him past Laker to a career tally of 194.
“It is a proud moment,” said the 33-year-old. “I’m always saying I’m not one for stats. But when people told me I was near to Jim Laker, I was genuinely excited. When you’re growing up, famous names from the game, you never even dream of emulating them – let alone going past their record.”
“So I’m very honoured to go past him today.”
But his were the only successes in an otherwise chastening experience for England as the punishing strokeplay of Virender Sehwag (117) and then the more sedate Cheteshwar Pujara (98 n.o.) took the hosts to 323 for four at stumps.
Despite two dropped catches and other misjudgements in the field, after Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir had shared an opening stand of 134, Swann (four for 85) hauled things back on a lifeless pitch offering just a little turn.
Those were the highlights for Swann and England then, amid plenty of vain ball-chasing and boundaries – courtesy mostly of Sehwag.
“From the first few overs, we realised we were in for the long haul over here,” he said. “The way ‘Viru’ batted from the off, he took the game away from us in that first couple of hours. So it was important to pull it back.
“That first session was very tough, and we had a guy in exceptional form.
“They undoubtedly won that session. But I think we won the second, and the third was fairly even. (PA Sport)