As I sat down to write this piece, the news came through that Graeme Swann had retired from cricket with immediate effect. How fitting. There has been an ‘end of an era’ feel about this tour from the very beginning.
Geoff Miller stepped down as chairman of selectors before the team left Blighty; Hugh Morris did the same; and rumours were also circling about the future of Andy Flower. The grin on Ashley Giles’ face was broadening by the day.
The truth is, this series was always going to be the last hurrah for this particular England team. And let’s face it, they bloody played like it too.
Graeme Swann, can’t even be bothered to finish the tour. This might seem harsh, but it’s what lots of people will think. Every England fan loves Swanny – he’s been a real cult hero over the years – but the timing of his retirement seems, well, a little bit selfish to be frank. I can’t help feeling a bit let down.
Ok, we understand that Swann’s elbow isn’t one hundred percent, and he’s not performing at the level he’d like, but the bottom line is he’s just given the Aussies a huge fillip before the forth test.
Having seen off Jonathan Trott, Michael Clarke’s men have now seen the back of Graeme Swann. Make no mistake, they’ll be absolutely loving this.
Meanwhile, Swann’s former teammates are left to face the music – and the prospect of a humiliating 0-5 whitewash – on their Jack Jones. I can see the ‘rat leaves sinking ship’ headlines in the Australian tabloids already.
I really don’t understand why England couldn’t have kept Swann’s decision under wraps. If he didn’t want to play in the final two tests, just say he’s injured. At least stay until the end of the tour and finish what you’ve started.
Unless England call up some rookie from the performance squad (which is hardly ideal) we won’t be able to play two spinners at Sydney now.
And what about preparations for Nathan Lyon? Having Swann in the nets would surely help our batsmen. I suppose that’s just tough luck.
I was really hoping for a bit of fight from England at the MCG. This seems unlikely now. The wheels came off a Perth, and now one of the best drivers has given up and gone home.
Swann’s decision just seems to reflect the broader psychology of the squad. With the exception of Broad and Bell, only the new players (who are still hungry and trying to prove themselves) have had success. Some of the others, it seems, have been planning their swansongs (Swann-songs?) and resting on their laurels.
I can certainly see more retirements being announced in the coming weeks. These England players have served their country well but the fight has now gone; the relentless treadmill of international cricket, with over two hundred nights a year in hotel beds, has finally worn them down.
For psychologically exhausted human beings, retirement is easier than dealing with the fallout of a disastrous tour. They might not admit to this, or even know it themselves, but it’s got to bubbling away in their subconscious.
And let’s not forget – the retirements of Miller and Morris set the tone before the first ball was bowled. Everyone here is culpable. Retirements should have been announced after the tour – after professed goals had been achieved.
Mentally, England have been thinking ahead of themselves – to comfy sofas and life after cricket. Maybe they thought they’d win simply by turning up? I don’t know.
What I do know, however, is that professional sporting contests are decided by fine margins. If one contestant isn’t focused – because the mind is somewhat distracted – the hungrier, more driven team will win.
The Ashes proves this – and as more revelations from the England camp emerge, it’s proved over and over again.
The events of the last few weeks are finally beginning to make sense.
James Morgan
My hunch is that Swann was going to be dropped, and as he was probably going to call it quits after the tour, he jumped before he was pushed. You can hear the conversation now with Flower, “Swannie, this is how it is….”
I’d even bet that Prior is out of the XI for Melbourne as well, and I keep hearing from differing circles that Pietersen is out as well. I have said before that KP being dropped will not solve anything, as we all know there is a hundred bubbling under the surface there soonish. Prior might even hand over the gloves to Bairstow and be selected as a batsman, but that would leave England short on a frontline bowler.
Anyhow, Swann had a great late career, and if had been switched on in his 20’s, who knows how many wickets he could have had.
I agree with you James that Swann took the easy route, and only history will decide how its going to view that. Most will remember the good times to a generally all round good bloke though.
“Ahh yes, come on in Mr Prior, take a seat…………..”
Looking at this the other way – if Swanny knows he can’t do it, then it take some balls to stand up and say so mid-tour. It would have been easy to keep his head down, keep under-performing because he’s not in the right place mentally and then retire when he gets home. Of course, it does depend on whether Flower has mentioned being dropped…
Of course the other thing (being really really cynical) is that it will allow him to get his tour diary out before whoever else retires/ quits (Flower?)
Swann can play 5 days. He’s just done it 3 times. He might not be able to do it at the same high level he’d like, but it’s still a higher level than the next off spinner available. That’s kind of my point. I think there’s a bit of ego involved here. I particular don’t like the way he then tried to spin his decision as a selfless act (ie I’m getting out of the way of the next spinner in line) when it’s probably the opposite.
I’ve always loved Swanny, but the timing of his retirement has left a bad taste in the mouth. Deep down I bet Cook feels very let down. He’s cutting a lonely figure as these senior players desert him. It also suggests the team spirit / morale is poor.
Oh dear, the tour just keeps getting worse for England, now Swann is slagging off his team mates………oh wait, he meant Vaughan and Pringle……………. but hang on…………”Some people playing the game at the minute have no idea how far up their own backsides they are”. Ah, so not Vaughan and Pringle then, right Swannie, you did say “playing the game at the moment”? So if Vaughnie is still playing, any chance he could pad up for Melbourne and Sydney? So why don’t you just come out and say “KP’s head is so far up……..” and tell us what we already know. And while your at it, how about adding your good buddy Ando as well – I know, I know, he’s still sulking over Bailey punching his last over in the head, but still, he does have an ego the size of his bowling average.
So 3 days to go until the Test, we await the next installment from the MCG and the pantomime that is “The England Dressing Room” – I’m not sure, but this could become better entertainment than Bold and The Beautiful. Can Ridge bowl spin?
And just to be really, really cynical, Swann retires with a test average of 29.9999999. One more game and it would’ve been over 30 ;-)
I think you nailed it Cricket Insider, but I think he really wanted to retire with a better average then his mate Jimmy. Future bragging rights over a beer!
I’m being cynical myself actually, but I liked Swann as a cricketer and what he brought to the game, on and off the pitch, but his timing casts a cloud and now slagging off his team mates (KP) is really lowering his colours in my opinion. He should bow out with a bit of grace and dignity, but he has blotched his copybook now.
Would love to be a fly on the wall in the team meetings now, more controversy to follow for sure!
Thats was a fixed match, for sure.
I think you will find,the reason Swann left,was to write an article and a book. These will expose the real truth,of what depths the aussies sank to,re ashes. They sledged CANCER(PINK CAPS,ARE YOU JOKING>???), MENTAL HEALTH, TROTT,MENTAL DISINTOGRATION!!COINED FROM NAZI GERMANY AND THE MOST BASIC FILTH,EVER HEARD ON A CRICKET FIELD!!!! AND BOY,ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT!! LOL,CANT WAIT TILL YOU PLAY SOUTH AFRICA!!
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