YOU’LL BE MISSED: Graeme Swann, 34, had the reputation of being a joker in the field.
Former England stars Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott expressed their admiration for spin bowler Graeme Swann yesterday after he abruptly announced his retirement from the sport.
Swann, 34, bows out with immediate effect, meaning he will play no part in the final two Tests of the Ashes tour of Australia, when England will bid to restore pride after going 3-0 down and surrendering the urn.
Former England bowler Derek Pringle criticised the timing of Swann’s decision, writing on Twitter that the off-spinner “should have seen the tour out as a senior player”.
However, former captain Vaughan said that Swann’s recent struggles with an elbow problem, which has seen him undergo three operations, suggested that he had reached the point of no return.
“There will be many cricket fans who have travelled over saying, ‘Wait a minute, you signed up to play the whole of the Ashes tour yet you’re doing one three games in,’” Vaughan told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“But I think it’s more the mind. I think the elbow problem has just triggered the mind to suggest that enough’s enough.”
Vaughan admitted that he was “surprised” by Swann’s timing, but dismissed the suggestion that his former team-mate had put himself before the team.
“Those that say he’s being selfish, must take into consideration that he’s giving up an England contract of nine months that is a lot of money, so he’s throwing a lot of money away by making the decision now,” Vaughan said.
“I don’t think he’s been selfish. I think he’s done it for his own mind. He thinks the team are better off without him.”
Former opener Boycott praised Swann’s honesty for admitting that he was past his best. “He hasn’t been right the whole series, he hasn’t been the Graeme Swann we know,” Boycott said.
“He’s better than his figures. I think it’s very honest. It’s very difficult to get up for top-class sport when you’re not bowling your best. I think it’s very honest to say, ‘Hey I’ve shot it, that’s it, I’m not going to be any good any more.’ It takes a brave man to do that.”
Boycott added: “He’s nothing to be ashamed about, he’s nothing to be embarrassed about. He’s been an excellent performer for England and I think he can hold his head up high.”
With 255 Test victims to his name, Swann is his country’s most successful off-spinner and former England coach David Lloyd praised his dedication to the team ethic.
Writing on Twitter, Lloyd said: “Swann retirement... Been a brilliant bowler in International cricket. Not about individual records for him.”
Meanwhile, Mike Newell, director of cricket at Swann’s county Nottinghamshire, said Swann’s reputation as a joker belied a meticulous approach to his profession.
“He joined us with a reputation for not taking things seriously, but I found him to be very thoughtful about his cricket and very committed to improving his game,” Newell told the Nottinghamshire website.
“Swanny has been a dominant performer in Test cricket for six years and it will leave a huge gap in the England team because there is no outstanding spinner quite ready to fill the place that he will leave.”
Australian players said they were stunned by Swann’s decision.
“I don’t know what to say, I thought he’d bowled OK in the series, just without luck I guess,” said fast bowler Ryan Harris.
“Something’s obviously not quite right with him, or he’s fulfilled whatever he wanted to do, but to me that’s a huge shock.”
Spinner Nathan Lyon said he had been “pretty shocked” by the news.
“He’s someone who I’ve looked up to a lot,” Lyon said. “His career stats stand for themselves, he’s been an unbelievable spinner and someone who I watched pretty closely in my time. I’m sure he will be sorely missed in the England team but I wish him all the best in the future.”
Swann’s England teammates took to Twitter to bid farewell to a player they described as one of the greats.
“Congrats @swannyg66 on brilliant career, will miss playing with the fellow twin.. #spintwins,” wrote Monty Panesar.
“What a career Swanny has had, very sad to see him retire, great bloke, won a lot of games for England and one of the funniest around,” added rising England star Ben Stokes.
Tim Bresnan offered his “huge congratulations on a great career in cricket” and said he would miss the jovial and popular Swann’s “constant putdowns and abuse of my mental capacity”.
“Also, many batsmen around the world have just exhaled a huge sigh of relief. Due to your constant challenge of the stumps and prodigious spin,” Bresnan said.
Vaughan added on Twitter that he believed it was “too soon” for Swann to call it a day, describing him as “finger spin out of the top draw”.
“Of all the England players over the last 20 yrs he is the one the team (will) miss the most .. Spinners of his quality are a rare breed...” Vaughan tweeted.
“He has also been a brilliant character who plays the game how it should be played .. With a energy of fun and humour.. #OldSchool”
The former England captain said Swann’s departure reinforced that “this Ashes tour is a absolute Disaster”, lamenting that “just 4 weeks ago England were favourites to win this series”.
But he defended Swann from accusations of selfishness, saying he had “made the right call for the team” knowing he wouldn’t make it to the 2015 World Cup.