Cook hails unbelievable Swann

Captain Alastair Cook has paid tribute to Graeme Swann and his pace bowlers after England recorded an 181-run victory over Bangladesh.

England were forced to dig deep in the blistering heat of Chittagong to wrap up success in the first Test - with Bangladesh providing dogged resistance.

A formidable 167-run stand between Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim had threatened to embarrass the tourists before Swann spun England to victory.

Swann finished with a second successive five-wicket haul for match figures of 10-217 - the first time an England spinner has taken 10 wickets on the subcontinent.

And Cook, experiencing his first taste of life as a Test match skipper, praised the effort of his bowlers.

"Full credit to the way Bangladesh fought in that last innings as they made us work really hard for the 10 wickets," Cook told Sky Sports.

"The way our lads, the three seamers and Swanny stuck at their task in really hot conditions was fantastic though and we are really happy."

England had faced criticism for not enforcing the follow on after dismissing Bangladesh for 296 in the first innings, as well as only selecting one spinner.

Unbelievable

However, Cook insisted England had proved their critics wrong by emerging triumphant.

"We won the game and that is all that matters," he said. "The follow on was a very easy decision. We had bowled for 90 overs before and the bowlers deserved a break from that heat.

"The way we bowled and ran in the heat for 120 overs in the second innings then the decision was justified."

Cook reserved special praise for Swann, who became the first England off-spinner since Jim Laker in 1956 to claim 10 wickets in a match.

"Swanny has been unbelievable over the past 12 months and to keep turning performances like this in and winning matches, well you couldn't ask for any more," said Cook.

"His 10 wickets were thoroughly deserved."

Cook, however, claimed not to hear Swann when the latter offered a somewhat coarse send-off to Siddique, who had compiled a marvellous 106.

"I honestly didn't hear it," he added.

"But we're trying to play in the right spirit of the game. The umpires did an excellent job I think and at no stage did they come to me and say they thought we crossed the line.

"In hot conditions, I was (happy with the conduct). It was was easy for things to bubble over a lot more than they did."

Apology

Even so, man-of-the-match Swann was sufficiently embarrassed to later issue an apology and claim he was in the captain's "bad books".

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

"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.

"It was not meant as a personal slight on him, just as a release of pent up frustration.

"It's testament to him that he did get everyone frustrated. It was just a spur of emotion which is exactly what Cookie told us not to do, so I'm in his bad books."

Swann added that he was pleased with his own efforts, and backed Cook for not enforcing the follow-on.

"It's been a good 12 months for me and I'm more than happy for it to keep going," he said.

"It was hard work, and I think that's why Cooky was justified in not enforcing the follow on."