Cook confident with Swann on song

Alastair Cook praised match-winner Graeme Swann's control and determination after he became the first English off-spinner in over 50 years to take 10 wickets in a Test match.

Swann wrapped up a pair of five-fors in England's 181-run first Test win over Bangladesh, with three wickets in the crucial afternoon session on Tuesday to claim match figures of 10 for 217 in nearly 80 overs and join the much-revered Jim Laker in the history books.

"It's a really good win because to get 20 wickets on a pitch like that was a fantastic effort," said Cook, after the Tigers' second innings was ended for 331. "Swanny has got 10 himself and to get 10 wickets on that pitch was an amazing effort."

He added: "He has just got so much control of his game right now, he's very easy to captain. He knows the fields he wants and you trust him to wheel away, knowing he's going to make the breakthrough. He bowled a lot of overs here so that shows his determination."

Laker is esteemed company indeed for the Nottinghamshire bowler to keep in the record books, but Cook did not shy away from the comparison.

"Everything is going right for him, and the skill he's shown over the past 12 months shows it's not a fluke," he said. "If he keeps his feet on the ground, there's no reason why he can't [be an England great] and I'm sure he'll continue doing it."

Despite that hearty praise, 30-year-old Swann admitted he had also disappointed his skipper after swearing at Junaid Siddique.

Junaid had batted for 292 balls on his way to 106, an innings that frustrate England's hopes for two full sessions. When Swann finally removed him, he sent him on his way in the coarsest of fashions.

"It was in the heat of the moment. It was not anything malicious but I apologise unreservedly," said Swann.

"I know I did swear and it's not something I condone so I feel a bit ashamed. Afterwards I told him he batted very well. There's no ill feeling."