Century for Swann as England struggle in Oval battle

Swann had a fine day on a personal level, taking four wickets to move past 100 Test victims in just 23 matches, and also receiving a belated nomination of ICC Cricketer of the Year having been accidentally omitted on Wednesday.

But while he was pleased with his own efforts, he remained focused on a precarious match situation that sees England 6-1 overnight – 69 runs adrift.

"There's no doubt about it, we're behind the eight ball a little bit because of the deficit, but it's still a cracking batting track," he said after helping dismiss the tourists for 308.

"We'll be hoping to put a big total up second time round. We can't bat as badly as we did in our first innings and we need to get a decent total to give ourselves a platform to win the game."

Recalled batsman Mohammad Yousuf made a fine 56 and threatened to score plenty more before Swann brought up his landmark by tempting him into offering a caught and bowled chance.

And the identity of Swann's 100th wicket left the 31-year-old smiling.

"I'm delighted to get Yousuf," he said.

"It was the first time I've played against him, the first time I've seen him bat first hand and he played like the class player he is.

"So to get him as my 100th is really great, he'd probably be the name on their team sheet I'd have picked at the start of the game."

He added: "I only realised I was on 97 today because my mum told me. She was only coming to see me get 100.

"She was off to the proms tonight, so I was glad I could get it before tea so she could get off," he added.

The landmark moment capped an up-and-down week for Swann, who started the week in court answering a drink-driving charge and ends it with a chance of being named the world's best player.

Regarding the confusion over his nomination, or lack of, he said: "I saw on TV that I was on the list and

"I was expecting congratulations in the dressing room but all I got was the mickey taken that I wasn't in to start with."