Graeme Swann is fit and raring to go after his man-of-the-match display in England’s 228-run demolition of Essex quashed any concerns about his fitness.
Swann returned 5-68 as the Chelmsford hosts were dismissed for 186 soon after tea on the fourth and final day of the LV= Challenge.
The off-spinner excelled on a pitch offering significant turn, a promising sign for England given he had bowled just nine balls in the first innings having taken a blow from Tymal Mills.
Swann revealed that his bowling forearm, struck by a delivery from the left-arm paceman during his impressive 94 early on day two, is now fine.
“Yeah, it feels great,” he told ecb.co.uk. “It was more a shock than anything else. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck to be honest. He's quick that lad.”
As well as getting wickets under his belt, Swann was pleased to make a contribution with the bat in his one innings. He and Tim Bresnan, who made an unbeaten 105, added 187 for the eighth wicket.
“I'm always telling our top order they should score some more runs,” Swann added. “It's about time that I went out and put my money where my mouth was.
“It was nice to get a few. It was a lovely partnership with Bres. It's lovely to bat with him because if he's up in the changing room he just talks nonsense but out in the middle he's quite level-headed.”
Attention now turns to the first Investec Ashes Test, starting a week today, at Swann’s home ground.
“The excitement's just going to build from here,” he said. “It's the same for us players as it is for the crowd and the public.
“We live for the Ashes cricket and it's going to be incredible next week at the most picturesque ground in the country, Trent Bridge.”
Watch the exclusive Graeme Swann interview from ecb.co.uk/video