Graeme Swann joins BBC Test Match Special for West Indies tour

Former England spinner Graeme Swann is to join the BBC Test Match Special team for England's one-day tour of the West Indies starting later this month.

The 34-year-old retired in December, midway through the 5-0 Ashes Test series defeat in Australia.

Swann will join West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards, Tony Cozier, Simon Mann, Kevin Howells and Derek Pringle.

"I grew up listening to Test Match Special, it's an honour to have a chance to work with the team," he said.

Swann was part of three Ashes-winning teams and played 60 Tests for England, capturing 255 wickets, a total that put him sixth on the all-time list of English bowlers.

He also made 79 one-day international appearances and took 104 wickets, and played in 39 Twenty20 internationals, taking 51 wickets.

The former Northants and Nottinghamshire spinner was a member of England's 2010 ICC World Twenty20-winning team and captained England in three T20 games in 2011.

Swann is no stranger to BBC Radio, having co-presented the Sony award winning Not Just Cricket show on Radio 5 live with Radio 1's Greg James and fellow England bowler James Anderson.

"It's an honour to continue my relationship with BBC Radio," he added. "I am particularly looking forward to returning to the Kensington Oval in Barbados with so many happy memories of our World Twenty20 victory there in 2010."

Richard Burgess, the head of BBC sports news and radio sport, said: "We're delighted that Graeme is joining the Test Match Special team in the West Indies.

"After so recently leaving the England set-up, Graeme will bring genuine insight to the audience, analysis of the game as well as his trademark sense of humour."

England play three ODIs and three T20s against the West Indies from 28 February - 13 March and each match will be available on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC website.