Nottinghamshire all-rounder Graeme Swann says that he accomplished a lifelong dream by playing a key role in England’s Ashes victory.

Swann bowled the final ball of the series to cap a remarkable summer in which he has firmly established himself as England’s number one spinner.

“The feeling back in the changing room after the game was almost euphoric,” said Swann, who should feature in two One Day Internationals against Australia at Trent Bridge in September.

“It was a dream come true because I’d always dreamt of winning the Ashes and taking wickets in the game.”

Swann’s second innings haul of 4-38 in the Fifth Test at The Oval was eclipsed only by a five wicket haul from Notts team mate Stuart Broad.

“Luckily for us, we knew we had enough time to do it no matter how slow the wicket got and how difficult it became to take wickets,” said Swann.

“Fred said ‘if it takes until tea time on the final day then it takes until tea time on the final day’ but the niggling doubt was there and I was thinking ‘are they going to break records’ and ‘are we going to go down as a national embarrassment’.

“But after those two run outs we were able top take wickets and mop them up.”

Ryan Sidebottom will hope to join Swann and Broad in the reckoning for the One Day series, two Twenty20 Internationals and the Champions Trophy.