Graeme Swann retires

[Fenil]

He wasn't at his best for a while now and I honestly expected him to retire soon but certainly not in the middle of the series like Ashes. He should have waited for the series to end. The time of press conference is a bit awkward too. Maybe it was just on the spur of the moment decision.

 

[GlitchInTheMatrix]

Oh no..
I'm greatly shocked..

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Ashes: England spinner Graeme Swann announces retirement from international cricket - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Swann retires from international cricket ONLY.^

 

[barmyarmy]

If he was planning on retiring anyway it makes sense to go at 3-0 down. An absolutely loss for England though; really irreplaceable as a character as well as a player.
I know he's been quite a divisive player but he's always been my favourite player in the side over and above every other.

 

[Champagnepapi]

I knew this was coming soon, trying new spinners like Tredwell and bringing Monty back always gave me a thought of Swann's retirement.

 

[fk915]

Wow ... this English team is falling like a house of cards . They must be waking up in the middle of nights because of all those nightmares and decided to catch first flight back to home ...

 

[T.J.Hooker]

hmm, average of 29.96

 

[cricket_icon]

Wow ... this English team is falling like a house of cards . They must be waking up in the middle of nights because of all those nightmares and decided to catch first flight back to ...

England have been battered, not just in the realm of sport but as men, they have been cowed by an Australian side that, in all honesty, are not better on an individual level than England BUT they have come to win. England seem to have come for a paycheck and a free holiday and when they no longer fancy it, off they trot home...no pun intended.

Swann, no matter how he was feeling about his career, should have seen this series through. It was 2 more matches, he was one of the most influential, respected and important men on the pitch, from both sides. No matter how he may have played in those remaining matches, he was instrumental to the team in a mental sense...then again, there seems to be something happening backstage. England are imploding in similar fashion to Pakistan or West Indies.

 

[fk915]

England have been battered, not just in the realm of sport but as men, they have been cowed by an Australian side that, in all honesty, are not better on an individual level than England BUT they have come to win. England seem to have come for a paycheck and a free holiday and when they no longer fancy it, off they trot home...no pun intended.

Swann, no matter how he was feeling about his career, should have seen this series through. It was 2 more matches, he was one of the most influential, respected and important men on the pitch, from both sides. No matter how he may have played in those remaining matches, he was instrumental to the team in a mental sense...then again, there seems to be something happening backstage. England are imploding in similar fashion to Pakistan or West Indies.

not to mention they had team unity problem ... the whole KP saga where he went to youtube ... and I think that cost Strauss the captaincy shows there were grouping in the team. If you are winning everything looks nice ... all Aussies did is they put some pressure on the cracks and it all opened up. What kind of character is that when team needs you most you are running away.

 

[Aravind.]

Graeme Swann is the best orthodox off spin bowler I've seen.I just saw this thread & told to me WTF the only English cricketer who i like most a true fighter at least we can see him in ipl.

 

[Skater]

I agree with Geoffrey Boycott.

There's no disgrace in him retiring now because the Ashes are over.

2 Tests to go, yes, but nothing riding on them.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Shocker. He was a very fine cricketer during his playing days.

 

[C Boomer]

With Swann's surprise retirement, I reckon its an ideal opportunity for England unleash their other three giant quicks onto the arena and give the ailing Anderson a well earned rest, he looks tired and battle scared !

Big Boyd Rankin for one would be hostile on those hard Aussie batting tracks!

 

[Aislabie]

Still wonder if the fact that he averaged 29.98 was the biggest factor.

Averaging under 30, he's the best English spinner since Underwood; averaging over 30 he's just another spinner who got a lot of wickets. That 0.02 makes a big difference.

He could have fought back for one last time and proved all his critics before retiring. Also, probably this is first time a player is retiring** at midst* of a tournament being totally fit (correct me if I am wrong).


*-The games for the team he plays for still exist.
**-Without being dropped in further matches.

Damien Martyn, methinks?

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

murali did it as well, albeit he announced he would prior to the series.

 

[cricket_icon]

not to mention they had team unity problem ... the whole KP saga where he went to youtube ... and I think that cost Strauss the captaincy shows there were grouping in the team. If you are winning everything looks nice ... all Aussies did is they put some pressure on the cracks and it all opened up. What kind of character is that when team needs you most you are running away.

Ye, check out another of my threads: Old problems in cricket's new world

I talk about how England have had seeds of problems for a while now, they have cracked up under pressure before but never to the extent I'm seeing here. Depression, retirement, terrible batting and heartless bowling...not to mention ZERO fight bar a couple of good knocks by Bell and Stokes. This has been the most pathetic series by England since 07