Cricket: Swanns on song

Stephen Brenkley talks to England's latest pair of cricketing brothers

One of the enduring images of the last cricket season, apart from Glenn McGrath continually working over the England captain, was that of the Hollioake brothers sitting side by side and joshing. Adam and Ben were a constant delight as they talked of sibling rivalry and how their table tennis matches were rarely finished.

There should be more to come from them down the years and some time it is possible that they might be joined by the brothers Swann. Alec, the elder, made his Championship debut and an immediate impression for Northamptonshire with a sparkling century. Graeme, the younger, made his way in to the Sunday League side for the latter part of the season and on Friday he embarked for South Africa with the England under-19 squad for a long tour which culminates in the World Cup.

"We're actually much different," said Graeme. "Alec's got a quiet, dry sense of humour but he's more introverted where I'm outgoing. We don't socialise much together but all our lives we've spurred each other on at cricket. It's been the usual thing, me as the younger one wanting to show I can do it better and the older one knowing he can't allow himself to be bettered. It's worked well for us both."

Alec, 21, who is spending the winter playing grade cricket in Newcastle, New South Wales, is a specialist batsman, Graeme, 18, is an off-spinning all-rounder. If his bowling is his more refined skill at present he knows his batting must be more than adequate. "I see myself as an all- rounder," he said. "I don't intend my batting just to be a bonus but to be a big part of any team." He performed with credit during last summer's matches against Zimbabwe but is mature enough to realise that the South African trip, containing as it does a Test and one-day series, as well as the World Cup, is a bigger test.

"This will be the first time I've played abroad and my intention has got to be come back a better cricketer than when I went. That goes for us all. I know we should all learn things about ourselves." Swann may find himself in direct competition for a place with Jonathan Powell of Essex, who is three months his junior and will leave the under-19 squad briefly for the England A tour to Sri Lanka. "I hope they'll play us both, if not then I want Jonathan's place," he said.

The chances of victory in South Africa are difficult to estimate. Although most of the England team, to be led by Owais Shah when his university term finishes, have emerged through the development of excellence scheme they are largely untried at under-19 level.

Without any promises to murder 'em, coach John Abrahams said: "The way the players have come together and seeing the respect they have for each other and without knowing the opposition strength we have a chance of winning the World Cup." We shall not know till February.