Graeme Swann

[benchmark00]

I think almost certainly he has been given a tap on the shoulder and management have told him to retire or the decision will be made for him (for this tour).

 

[indiaholic]

Loved the guy.. Sad to see him go so soon. I hoped he might play for at least two more years.

 

[Jono]

End of a very very good career. Was terrific for English cricket, and cricket in general.

Will be missed.

 

[Maximas]

I think almost certainly he has been given a tap on the shoulder and management have told him to retire or the decision will be made for him (for this tour).

Pretty harsh if that was the case IMO, Australia being a finger spinners graveyard and all, especially given he has often had to bowl at the Australian batsmen when they weren't under much pressure, and of course he hasn't been helped by Prior at times. Swann was still playing very well in England and I thought he bowled very well at Perth.

 

[Prince EWS]

Pretty harsh if that was the case IMO, Australia being a finger spinners graveyard and all, especially given he has often had to bowl at the Australian batsmen when they weren't under much pressure, and of course he hasn't been helped by Prior at times. Swann was still playing very well in England and I thought he bowled very well at Perth.

I think, if benchy is correct (which I'm not really sold on), it'd be more due to the fact that he'd made the decision to retire after this tour anyway, and given they'd lost the series they didn't see any point in playing him in the last two games.

 

[Flem274*]

Played Swann. A vital cog in a good England side and one of the best spinners in the world post Murali and Warne.

 

[DingDong]

what a champion. all the best in whatever u do next

 

[GIMH]

Sad news really. Will miss him.

 

[Son Of Coco]

What a sad end. All the trolling can really piss off, at least for now, especially from those who had a cry in the Ponting retirement thread.

Ponting didn't pull up stumps mid-series.

Reckon it's pretty piss-weak myself, but he may well have good reason for it. I guess we'll find out in the next few days or so. At least England have Monty to step in so they don't have to throw a new guy in in the middle of this series.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ponting didn't pull up stumps mid-series.

Which of course makes it completely different, because all those in the Ponting retirement tribute thread specifically said at the time that it was disrespectful to sling mud in such a thread unless he did the unthinkable and retired one game earlier.

 

[harsh.ag]

Bye Swann. England looked so much better with you. That is something. Have a good life. Troll Fletcher once on TV for me.

 

[Spikey]

yeah ponting just admitted he wasn't good enough anymore (by retiring) and then selfishly played in the deciding match of the series

(i'm just messing around y'all)

 

[GIMH]

Bowled 0 no-balls and 1 wide in Tests

 

[Son Of Coco]

I don't buy that him not being able to last 5 days was the reason behind it all too...he's barely had to in the recent series

 

[harsh.ag]

Swann goes out trolling:

• 
  [*=left]Telling Alastair Cook of his decision...
  [*=left]"He is one of my best mates so it should have been a very easy conversation but it actually made it doubly hard, just to sit down over a coffee and blurt it out. It was like one of his team talks, it didn't make any sense. But I got it out in the end."

 

[andyc]

I'm mostly disappointed by this news because we won't be getting to see this any more

 

[Riggins]

Hey Riggins, Hendrix has a problem with your boi Marto.

Hendrix can go and **** himself then.

 

[Spikey]

australia were winning though

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Big shock, news broke as I was about to go to bed last night. Thanks for the memories Swanny, you were to put it simply comfortably the best spinner that England have had in the last 30 years. To play your part in 3 ashes wins and a series win in India as well as be a leading member of the side that reached number 1 is a fair effort for someone nobody seems to rate.

I guess Panesar has the role now for the forseeable future and Dockrell will be poached off Ireland.

 

[Burgey]

Get the impression Swann was the heart and soul of the r gland sheds tbh. A real character - one if those blokes you love to have in your side but hate playing against.

I can only assume the reasons he's given are genuine and there's not some drama in the sheds.

He was certainly an integral part of the England side. The fact they unsportingly denuded their own pitches of grass when they're naturally green seamers to suit him also says management recognised his worth to the team.

Well played him.