 He played extensively throughout the 1972 season which saw Derbyshire rooted to the foot of the Championship table, though he was to play against a team of West Indians early in the following season.He played little throughout the following five seasons and finished his first-class career with an expensive bowling return and little to show from his batting against an in-form Gloucestershire side.Swindell was part of the Derbyshire tailending attack along with teammate Mike Hendrick during the early 1970s.