Ö÷²¥´óÐã

We were helped, I think, by losing the toss. As Michael Vaughan and Mr Moores have said we probably would have bowled first, but by looking at the Kiwis’ approach,

There has been some talk that the pitch was not what New Zealand might have wanted. But even though it was a more English pitch in many ways, it’s the same for both sides at the end of the day.

James Anderson, in particular, kept a firm eye on the New Zealand attack - and it was a conscious effort of his and all our bowlers to pitch it up, give it a chance to swing, and it paid dividends.

Of course, Jimmy and Stuart Broad got their chance after , and you have to say it was a brave decision from the selectors that was ultimately justified. The proof was in the pudding, as they say.

Jimmy was magnificent in the first innings and, along with Ryan Sidebottom, bowled brilliantly throughout. Stuart Broad, meanwhile, showed just how much potential he has and played a brilliant supporting role.

So, all in all, while not the perfect performance, it was fantastic to see all the things we have been sweating our guts over in practice come to fruition and the players certainly deserved to enjoy it.

We had a few beers in the dressing room after the match and then met up in the evening for a bit of a St Patrick’s Day victory celebration. Inevitably, it ended in a bit of a sing-song after Vaughany had ordered me to get the guitar out and we all cracked out a few tunes.

Ryan Sidebottom was leading the singing even though, despite being Roger Daltrey’s twin, he doesn’t like guitar music, while Tim Ambrose also came to the party – he’s better than Eric Clapton on the guitar, seriously.

The spirit and camaraderie was top as the players, wives, girlfriends and coaches all revelled in the win together and, although I would obviously much rather have been out there on the pitch with the boys, we are all out here together and win as a squad and lose as a squad, so it wasn’t hard for me to join in the celebrations.

In fact, having watched my best mates out here in Sid and Jimmy win the match for us, I took it as my solemn responsibility to get involved and ensure the boys were able to enjoy the celebrations to the fullest!

Now we are in with a very real chance of winning the series and already we are focused on Napier and the third Test.

I would imagine the wicket will be similar to Hamilton, although when we played the one-dayer there it was very hard and flat, but whatever the surface we are confident we can come away with a win.

We still haven’t seen the best from this side and it is an exciting time to be involved so, if we can play as we can in Napier, we know we will win the series and set up a celebration twice as big as the one we enjoyed in Wellington.

Thanks again for your comments and questions. I’ve tried to answer as many as possible.

Graeme, are you looking forward to going with Jimmy Anderson to watch the Toon play Burnley in the Championship next season? (Ceci Masters)
Yep, I’m looking forward to watching that match just after seeing Sunderland lose to Grimsby or the like…

If you had a virtual reality machine which was able to put you in any place or situation (real or fictional), what would it be? (James Batty)
Standing on the 18th tee at Augusta, one shot ahead of Woods with the driver in my hand. And a gaggle of screaming lovelies cheering me on. Lovely.

If you could choose anyone - male or female, alive or dead - to be the ruler of the world, who would it be? You can't choose yourself. – (Joshua)
I’d bring back Bill Clinton. I thought he got a hard press at the end of his reign – I love him. If you can’t have a president of the USA with an IQ over 50, you might as well have one that’s good with the ladies, I reckon.

When bowling, do you hold more with an anti-essentialist ontology and consequent epistemological theoretical base as set out by Foucault and others in the postmodern school, or do your sympathies lie more with the reconfiguration of the enlightenment project, seeking a new rebirth of human value systems and forms, as set out most notably by Jurggen Habermas in his theory of ideal communication and beyond. (Paul in Lancs)
I’d say definitely the former. And I also like Star Trek.

What did you guys say to Broady, Cooky and Jimmy after they participated in that Cosmopolitan photoshoot? Did the lads (including you) give them a hard time? (Jayaru)
(Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and James Anderson posed naked – with bats covering their particulars – for a cancer awareness shoot with Cosmopolitan magazine)
It's fair to say it has been mentioned! I was there on the day of the shoot and it was hilarious. For four hours before, I’ve never seen three grown men more scared in all my life, it was like they were about to go over the top from the trenches or something. In fact, just before they went on, Cookie and Broady were heard debating the benefits of doing 20 quick press-ups to get the biceps bulging. I can also testify that they all definitely asked if they could be air-brushed to make them look more 'buff'…

Other than yourself, obviously, who are the big pranksters on this tour now guys like Flintoff and Gough aren't around? (Steve)
Ian Bell, without a doubt, if there’s ever a kipper in your pads, sandwich under your pillow or something’s gone missing, you always turn to Belly first.

Who in the squad gets the most girls? (Molly)
Everyone is happily married or with girlfriends. But I’d say the most popular one would otherwise be Alastair Cook, firstly because he looks like Danny Larusso out of the Karate Kid and secondly those eyes – you could get lost swimming in those I tell you…

Why have you not accepted me as a friend on Facebook yet? (Ed, California)
I have a team of dedicated people who look after my Facebook profile and you have to pass a very stringent test to make it as one of my friends. You have to either be an old school friend, an actual friend… or a hot single female. Actually, the missus will read this, I don’t mean that last one…

Anyway, don't forget to keep your questions coming, as always I'll answer a selection in my next column.

Cheers,
Graeme

Graeme Swann was talking to Sam Lyon