Just been reported on ABC radio that Monty told team-mates in Sydney club cricket yesterday that Swann was going to be dropped for MCG and replaced by him
If I was going to put money on the reasons for his pulling the plug, I'd say this was up there in the possibility stakes. The selectorial fig-leaf of publicly announcing that one's going of one's own volition whilst they shove you under the train seems to be the way a lot of distinguished test careers end.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).
Best straight arm slow bowler since Warne, IMHO.I forgot about that actually. Backs my point even further really.
I can see how people may have found him brash or whatever (he was just a guy with a sense of humour for me), but most of the hate seemed to stem around the fact people rated him very highly, whereas he wasn't as good as Warne or Murali. Well he was still very good.
Monty plays for 18 months he will be past 200.Love the man and we won't have another spinner getting anywhere near 200 wickets for years.
I don' think he will though. Though throwing in Borthwick/Whoever in a 5 match series against the Indians would be mad.Monty plays for 18 months he will be past 200.
Not really. Based on the lack of interest in the current series between their two countries, no one would have noticed they'd gone.If this was Murali / Ajmal the forum would have erupted.
tbf the tests haven't started yetNot really. Based on the lack of interest in the current series between their two countries, no one would have noticed they'd gone.
ok now let's predict the responses if Swann announced his retirement, but expressed his desire to play these last two matches
Yeah this.that's not the scenario I gave you, but if Swann had announced his retirement pre-series, there'd be a lot of people saying that with the series now gone, maybe they should move on and leave Swann out of the team.
If the ODI's meant more then there would have been more interest.You sense the Odis mean more
Maybe there will be even less interest in the Tests.If the ODI's meant more then there would have been more interest.
Anyway,Maybe there will be even less interest in the Tests.
I don't really have any problem with it. His body was struggling but he played on in hopes of retaining the Ashes in Australia. That hasn't happened. There's no point him playing on for absolutely no reason when England can start preparing for the future now.Shouldn't have left in the middle , shame.
Exactly. Swann is by some considerable distance the best spinner we've had in my lifetime.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.