As Graeme Swann celebrates his 37th birthday, rugby league legend Lee Briers praised the former Nottinghamshire & England man as one of the great characters of modern era sport.
Swann penned the foreword to the former St Helens, Warrington, Wales and Great Britain half-back’s autobiography in 2014, referring to the oval ball stalwart as the ‘Messi of rugby league.”
Briers has now returned the compliment, naming Swann alongside golf legend Bubba Watson and former Premier League footballer Joey Barton as the sporting personalities with whom he identifies the most.
“I like characters in sport; I mean people with real, proper character.
“There’s not many of them knocking about unfortunately now in professional sport.
“In golf that’s Bubba Watson and in football I like Joey Barton because he’s always controversial, but knows when to pull it in.
“In cricket, for sure, it’s Swanny. Following him on Twitter, you can tell he’s quite witty.
“He likes a laugh on there. He likes to throw stuff out there to get a reaction.
“We’re probably very similar characters. He’s a guy I’d love to sit around a table and have a few pints with.”
“The game is serious, but I like people who don’t seem to be taking it too seriously.”
Briers watched in awe as England dominated in Test cricket throughout Swann’s international career, enjoying the kind of dominance over the old enemy, Australia, that British rugby league has been craving since the 1970s.
“He was class, especially in the latter years of his career,” said Briers of Swann, who took 255 Test wickets during a whirlwind five year period from 2008/09 to 2013/14.
“There weren’t many better spin bowlers in the world. England dominated the Ashes during his time and he played a massive part in that, not only on the field, but I’m sure he was a big contributor behind the scenes in the changing rooms as well.”
Briers, like Swann, enjoyed his most successful period on the field during the latter stages of his career, winning three Challenge Cups and reaching two Grand Finals with a Warrington side that had previously endured a major trophy dearth stretching back some 35 years.
“You’ve got a lot of experience by the time you get into your 30s,” said the 37-year-old who retired with a neck injury at the conclusion of the 2013 rugby league season.
“You’re much more composed. The game slows down a lot in your head and you know exactly what’s going on.
“Things become a lot clearer and you enjoy the last few years because you’re coming to the end and there’s no pressure on you.
“The love I’ve got for rugby league kept me going and I’m sure Graeme was the same with his cricket.
“You’ve got to love the sport. It can’t become a job. Once it becomes a job, that’s when it gets too serious and you start to struggle.”
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.