5 best performances by spinners in Ashes

#5 Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann had a beautiful bowling action

Ashes 2009, Match figures: 8-158

Scorecard: England 332 and 373/9d; Australia 160 and 348 (England won by 197 runs)

A smooth, graceful and copybook style bowling action and conventional off-spin bowling in an era where cricket was full of mystery bowlers, Graeme Swann redefined simplicity in cricket.

The captain's go-to man, Swann provided breakthroughs when they were most needed. In Ashes 2009, going into the 5th Test at the Oval, England and Australia were level at one win each. Swann and Broad ripped the Australian batting to shreds with their bowling in the first innings picking up 4 and 5 wickets respectively and giving England a massive lead of 182 runs. In the second innings too, Swann lead the attack picking up 4 wickets to seal the game and thus the series for England.

Note that Swann also scored a quick-fire 63 in the second innings to help England set a big target.