I wish Graeme Swann’s shock retirement mid way through the 2013/14 Ashes series had been treated with the same understanding now given to Ravi Ashwin. I always felt he was unfairly vilified for admitting that he couldn’t do it anymore having realised it was time to go. - ThreadSky

wgrumblepants.bsky.social • 72 days ago

I wish Graeme Swann’s shock retirement mid way through the 2013/14 Ashes series had been treated with the same understanding now given to Ravi Ashwin.

I always felt he was unfairly vilified for admitting that he couldn’t do it anymore having realised it was time to go.

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iaingalexander.bsky.social•72 days ago

My cricket-centric WhatsApp group circles around to this topic unusually often. A frequent knock against Swann (I disagree) is less that he retired mid-series and more that he “ran away” back to England. I see Ashwin is also leaving the squad — makes perfect sense not to be a ghost at the feast

carlwiddows.bsky.social•71 days ago

Well mid tour retirements seldom are a good look, but I remember he a serious underlining injurey issue going on. Not living in England, I was exposed to the fall out.

betterpolo.bsky.social•70 days ago

I both think this and think the comms could have been handled way better. Viewing The Edge and the insights it gives into that dressing room shines a light on the pressures they were under. A touring group falling apart must be one of the worst experiences.

dts1970.bsky.social•72 days ago

It’s a good point, but the difference was it happened when the England team were getting slaughtered and falling to pieces and it felt like he was leaving a sinking ship. Ashwin is going while the series is still firmly in the balance and they have more than adequate replacements, England didn’t.

worgztheowl.bsky.social•72 days ago

Yeah I don't remember Swann being particularly singled out for criticism over any of them on that tour - more that the whole lot of them were a shambles and falling to bits and invariably his decision to retire mid-series was seen through that lens.

dts1970.bsky.social•72 days ago

I think you’re right, but he was criticised by many for retiring mid tour, probably unfairly, he felt he didn’t have it any more

worgztheowl.bsky.social•72 days ago

Yeah. I just think they all got heavily hammered in the press on that tour because really were embarrassingly shambolic as a team, and in Swann's case it was for that decision. Which I'm sure in hindsight he wished he'd handled better as was not a great way to call time on a brilliant career.

terrier55.bsky.social•72 days ago

I was at an evening with Swann a few years ago, he retired mid tour due to his elbow injury, he could no longer grip the ball. The management told him if he couldn’t play then he had to go home. He was vilified in the press for no reason

tg59.bsky.social•72 days ago

The context is different. Ashwin didn’t play in the first and third tests and had already indicated to his captain he was retiring. I think many thought Swanny just abandoned a sinking ship. India are still very much in this.

linuxlea.bsky.social•72 days ago

Swann had underlying injury issues, though.
I recall him telling that he made the decision after almost dropping his kid because his elbow gave out when he held her.

tg59.bsky.social•72 days ago

He did have a serious elbow injury but played in the previous summer home series and all three Ashes tests to that point. It didn’t come up as an issue as I recall. It was just managed poorly.

linuxlea.bsky.social•72 days ago

I recall him telling that story on the BBC "Pomnishambles" series review special.
He also mentions his doctor saying that his elbow was on borrowed time after that injury.

tg59.bsky.social•72 days ago

I don’t dispute it was a career-ending issue. He should have mentioned it in his announcement. Coming after Trott’s departure it just came over as he’d had enough. In reality he should never have gone in the first place. It’s a shame as he had a great career for England and Notts.

linuxlea.bsky.social•72 days ago

Yeah, I still think it was blown out of proportion, even though I like the Bob Willis quip of "What goes on tour should stay on tour, but that should include the players!"

benw87.bsky.social•71 days ago

It could've been handled better. If he retired through injury then he could've been "injured" for the rest of the tour. Retire when he lands in England. Mid tour retirement isn't ever pretty.

I love Swanny and think he was a terrific bowler with a great attitude but his retirement left a stain.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•70 days ago

He did retire though injury. His elbow was causing him a lot of pain and he could no longer spin the ball due to bone chips which caused loss of sensation in his finger.

benw87.bsky.social•70 days ago

I don't disagree. I'm not sure I explained myself very well. I believe it would have been better had they kept him on the tour as an injured player rather than him announcing his retirement. He could've officially retired when he landed back home.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•70 days ago

Ah - I see. Thanks for clarifying.

phildean.bsky.social•72 days ago

I think retiring mid-tour is a pretty shitty look - does no harm to wait until the end. Swann's had the distinct feeling of abandoning a sinking ship and keeping his test average under 30.

peripheralsturdz.bsky.social•72 days ago

I liked him as a player (absolutely not as a pundit, his main interest being Graeme Swann), but it really wasn't a good look. Thought it at the time, not changed my mind

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