A decade on from England’s success at the World Twenty20 in Barbados, Graeme Swann has no trouble recalling the afterglow of victory: “It was feet in the sand and a smile on my face; flip-flops in one hand, beer in the other.”
International sport is supposed to be draining and demanding and beating the best is usually an enterprise riven with drama and self-doubt.
Back in 2010, though, Swann has one clear conviction that eased his mind throughout the the tournament: England were the best team in town.
“I look back on that time with absolute fondness, it was one of the few times in my career when I just felt like we were better than everyone else,” he told the PA news agency.
“I just remember smiling a lot, dancing a lot, sitting in a beach bar with Ryan Sidebottom and laughing a lot, but the most enjoyable thing was the cricket we were playing.
“We were light years ahead of most other teams in the way we were innovating. It was the first time I felt part of a team who could win a tournament – T20 specialists rather than lads from the Test or one-day teams having a run out.
“I remember looking around the plane when we set off and I just thought ‘Jesus, we are good’. As a bowler you always look at the opposition batsmen there is no way in the world I would have wanted to bowl at what he had out there.”
Central to England’s approach was an opening partnership of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter – hitters from the county game who, incredibly, did not make their debuts until the first group match in the Caribbean.
“That day opened our eyes – that’s the way you play this game – it was a big turning point for us,” said Swann.
“I don’t think Stuart Broad get the recognition he deserves, though. He dropped Kiesy at mid-off on about four, an easy one, and that probably went on to win us the trophy!
“Add in Kevin Pietersen and suddenly we had the most explosive top three in world cricket. We could chase anything – if a pitch was good enough for you to make 200, we could make 250.”
“In 50-over cricket I never felt we were a feared team, but if you were coming up against those guys you’d just be praying they were already out by the time you got the ball,” he said.
Swann more than held up his own end, taking 10 wickets in six completed matches and coughing up just 17 runs from his four overs in the showpiece.
His winners’ medal no longer carries pride of place, residing in the garage following a house move, but the memories from the Caribbean certainly do.
“I value my England cap, with the champagne and sweat stains, more than a medal with sponsor logos all over it,” he said.
“But there’s a great picture of the whole squad on the beach at sunset, celebrating. I’ve got a comic-book drunk look but also a massive smile. That’s how I remember that time, just laughing and smiling and singing our team song.”
