England spinner Graeme Swann has revealed that he is hoping a long-standing elbow injury will not require surgery in the near future.

Swann has often been given pain-killing injections before matches this summer and has had to undergo surgery in the past.

The 33-year-old said: "It is not quite right - but it hasn't been quite right [for some time].

"I'm hoping not - because realistically, if I look at the age I am, if I can just get to the end of my playing days and my arm falls off the next day... I'm quite happy with that.

"I don't want to have another operation if I can help it, because it's horrendous."

Swann is expected to play in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley starting on Thursday.