
New plan works wonders for England
Graeme Swann celebrated one of the greatest sessions of his career after spearheading a stunning revival against Bangladesh at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Swann claimed his first five-wicket haul on home soil as Bangladesh lost 10 wickets after tea on the second day of the second npower Test.
The tourists' collapse from 126 without loss to 216 all out in reply to 419, despite another exhilarating hundred from Tamim Iqbal, left them facing the prospect of the follow-on.
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England captain Andrew Strauss will decide overnight whether to put the visitors back in.
Swann, who finished with five for 76, said: "Obviously going up to tea things weren't going great for us.
"But we regrouped and had a discussion with our bowling coach David Saker and came up with a plan that worked perfectly as we took 10 wickets in the final session.
"You never expect to take 10 wickets in a session, that is outstanding and I can't remember that happening in my career.
"We hoped once we got one we could get two or three so we are delighted to be where we are now."
Swann extracted considerable turn from the Stretford End, a welcome feat after his wicketless performance in the opening Test at Lord's last week.
He added: "It is always a relief to get your first wicket of the summer.
"At Lord's I felt I'd rather have a hole in the head than bowl on that wicket again. It didn't do anything for me and it wasn't a very enjoyable 30 overs.
"It was an enjoyable result but when you don't contribute you drive home thinking you've been a bit of a charlatan. I'm delighted I've contributed.
"It is my first five-wicket haul at home. I've had six before but they've all been away.
"You cherish them all but to get one in England - and they've got an honours board here - I'm delighted."
Swann intended to celebrate his performance by going out for a meal with his family.
He joked: "We're normally on tour, so I normally go and chug away on a pedalo for a bit."
Debutant Ajmal Shahzad was also instrumental in England's impressive post-tea effort, finishing with three for 45 after an excellent display of swing bowling.
Swann said of the Yorkshireman: "I thought I had a lot of enthusiasm until I met Shaz.
"The politest way of putting it, he is an absolute loon. He is like a big kid and he is enjoying every minute.
"When he came back on with the ball swinging I thought he was exceptional.
"Even though it was at the Bangladesh lower order he did a fantastic job of mopping them up."
Tamim, who followed up his Lord's ton by smashing 108 from 114 balls, admitted the failure of his team-mates had taken the gloss off his achievement.
The 21-year-old, who became the first Bangladesh batsman to score back-to-back Test centuries, said: "Personally it was great to score a hundred but the team matters.
"We didn't play well after a solid start, I'm not that happy.
"If we could have had five or six wickets in hand that would have been a perfect day.
"It was really bad, everyone is really disappointed. We know we got a perfect opportunity but threw it away. We need to learn from these mistakes."
Tamim has been criticised in some quarters for a lack of discipline but, having been encouraged by coach Jamie Siddons to attack as if playing a one-day international, is happy with his approach.
He said: "Some days it will look fantastic and some days it will look ugly but I think this is my way and I think I should keep on going in this way."
Tamim could be batting again first thing tomorrow but suspects Strauss may make him wait.
"There are still three days to go, so maybe they will bat," he said. "They have lots of days."
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