Ashes 2013/14

[spangley1812]

I would suggest that Swann has made a very selfish decision and it's nothing to do with future strategy of the team etc etc.
Whilst he has been good for England he has always performed when the team was in ascendency.  He now realises that with the team suffering his personal currency will be down rated unless he gets out as soon as he can and secure himself a lucrative contract by other than playing.

I agree 100%.......He was told he was dropped and threw the toys out, leaving his friends short handed

[PaulWinch again]

Maybe but it'd be speculation to say that.

[paul_e]

I think he was probably intending to retire having been part of an england squad which took 4 consecutive ashes series, I'm convinced it had been discussed which is why we saw kerrigan in the summer and Monty has played this series.  We need to find a wicket taking spinner that is clear, but we also need to replace a good slip fielder and handy lower order batsman.

I don't know what to think of the timing so I'm just going to point to his record instead and say, whatever you think of the timing of his departure or some of his actions in the last few years, he's been a very important part of a very successful period for us and he'll be a tough player to replace.

[eastie]

I think he was probably intending to retire having been part of an england squad which took 4 consecutive ashes series, I'm convinced it had been discussed which is why we saw kerrigan in the summer and Monty has played this series.  We need to find a wicket taking spinner that is clear, but we also need to replace a good slip fielder and handy lower order batsman.

I don't know what to think of the timing so I'm just going to point to his record instead and say, whatever you think of the timing of his departure or some of his actions in the last few years, he's been a very important part of a very successful period for us and he'll be a tough player to replace.

Very true - certainly one of the best I've seen watching England along with the likes of underwood.

[PaulWinch again]

I think if Borthwick can improve his spinning he could be a good option, his batting and fielding are excellent. Kerrigan I think will come back, he definitely shouldn't be discarded for his performance at the Oval. He wasn't given a chance to redeem himself and I thought he was treated pretty poorly to be honest.

[Lsvilla]

@MichaelVaughan: Hearing some very revealing quotes from @Swannyg66 about the England dressing room about to come out...!!!!!
Sadly - this would suggest things could get messy. As a regular 'away' tourist - who luckily this time didn't fancy Oz - I love Swanny and he has given a lot both on and off the field. I have no problem with his timings as I imagine a top sportsman losing his powers must really hurt.
I have some very treasured mobile phone footage of him singing on a stage in the team hotel in Colombo a couple of years ago after a test match win and that is very helpful in understanding that sport is great but is only sport and not everything

[paul_e]

The mirror was a decent story on this, basically him saying his elbow isn't right and wasn't right in the summer but he didn't want to let them down before going to Oz but it was a mistake and he wishes he'd retired after the oval.  It also says that a section of the England dressing room have their head up their own arses, which sounds perfectly reasonable.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/graeme-swann-im-not-quitter-2954138

[paul_e]

I think if Borthwick can improve his spinning he could be a good option, his batting and fielding are excellent. Kerrigan I think will come back, he definitely shouldn't be discarded for his performance at the Oval. He wasn't given a chance to redeem himself and I thought he was treated pretty poorly to be honest.

I can't get any county cricket over here so I'm totally in the dark about the county game and really have to rely on stats which isn't great.  That said Borthwick appears to be the guy they hoping for big things from because he'd be another bowling all rounder.  Him and Stokes making the grade would be really helpful because it means we can have batsmen at 6 and 8 without losing any bowling.  I think they'll have another look at Woakes as well.

Kerrigan looked good on the highlights I watched after he was called up but it was clearly too soon for him.  I hope he can get his head right and get another go as we really need a group of bowlers rather than using the same 4 or 5 all the time, that lack of depth in all departments has been the biggest issue in the last year, we've had people needing a break but haven't had anyone with the experience to step in for them.

The biggest issue for me is that the county circuit seems to be full of guys in the 30s at the minute, certainly at the top of the bowling charts, which makes it a bit harder to pick guys in their early 20s who can come in and build into a team.  Onions had one hell of a season on paper (and my Durham supporting brother-in-law has told me repeatedly how well he was bowling) but he's getting on a bit and has largely been ignored by England since his injury problems.

[olaftab]

The mirror was a decent story on this, basically him saying his elbow isn't right and wasn't right in the summer but he didn't want to let them down before going to Oz but it was a mistake and he wishes he'd retired after the oval.

More like "Actually I knew I wasn't up to it at the end of last summer but f*** me if I was going to miss out on an Australian tour jolly".
Unbelievably unprofessional to go ahead when he knew of his elbow issue and play 3 useless test matches lose the Ashes and than opt out.

[eastie]

Not enough to jack it in mid tour it looks like he's shouting his mouth off on the eve of the test too -
Let the pantomine begin - 

@MichaelVaughan: So @Swannyg66 says some England players heads are up their own Arse?  Which ones exactly??

@MichaelVaughan: As a respected senior player in the dressing room @Swannyg66 .. Why didn't you sort players out who got too big for themselves ??

@MichaelVaughan: I agree with @Swannyg66 that some players are getting ahead of themselves but I don't think he should have said it the day after retiring...

@MichaelVaughan: This tour for England was already a disaster.... Now it's a bloody joke...


@Swannyg66: @MichaelVaughan don't jump to conclusions Vaughney. I wasn't talking about the England dressing room or anyone in it. You too bbc.

@Swannyg66: Just because Derek Pringles writes something I find it astonishing that people buy into it?! Making stuff up sells papers I suppose

@MichaelVaughan: We all make mistakes @Swannyg66 .. I make plenty ... I am afraid on this occasion you  have made one ...

@MichaelVaughan: Fantastic to see @Borthwick16 called into the Test Squad... A great talent with a big future ...

[OzVilla]

This is so unprofessional on so many levels if you'd have told me last week this would be carrying on I wouldn't have believed it.

Swann needs to have a good look at himself here he really does. We've had his 'fair weather fans' comment after Brisbane, poor bowling, utterly cowardly batting, then deciding to pull out of the tour after 3 tests and now criticising others and their attitudes - I appreciate I'm just an outsider looking in but put all that together and tell me who has the attitude issues.

Oh and now is he suggesting it's all a misunderstanding and it's nobody in the team - what feck is he on?

As he's media bound though don't hold your breath for any criticism, especially from the Sky box who themselves seem to have disappeared up the players arses of late.

By the way, the Aussies are laughing at us and AGAIN it's totally self inflicted. 

Expect a world record 90,000 to be at the MCG on Boxing Day too.  Weather set fair and England in a total mess - they won't want to miss this!

[eastie]

This is so unprofessional on so many levels if you'd have told me last week this would be carrying on I wouldn't have believed it.

Swann needs to have a good look at himself here he really does. We've had his 'fair weather fans' comment after Brisbane, poor bowling, utterly cowardly batting, then deciding to pull out of the tour after 3 tests and now criticising others and their attitudes - I appreciate I'm just an outsider looking in but put all that together and tell me who has the attitude issues.

Oh and now is he suggesting it's all a misunderstanding and it's nobody in the team - what feck is he on?

As he's media bound though don't hold your breath for any criticism, especially from the Sky box who themselves seem to have disappeared up the players arses of late.

By the way, the Aussies are laughing at us and AGAIN it's totally self inflicted. 

Expect a world record 90,000 to be at the MCG on Boxing Day too.  Weather set fair and England in a total mess - they won't want to miss this!

Agreed, total shambles and I'm surprised by it all- for swann to quit and then make such comments to the press a day later is very unprofessional - has Flower taken his eye off the ball in this series , there are players spotted drinking late at night , tweets being criticised , and a team who seem to have lost all spirit and fight and have played terribly throughout - god knows what's going to happen next !

[Meanwood Villa]

So Trott was not in the right mental state to play but went anyway and Swann was not in the right physical state to play but went anyway. It's nice to get this news after they've contributed to defeats.

[OzVilla]

It shows a total lack of respect to the remaining squad and management.

Is he really that desperate to get his media career going that he has to do this now. Imagine how you'd feel within the squad. You'd be so pissed off with it all.

Aussie news report just came on basically taking the piss about it, as we would be.

5-0 is an absolute certainty now

[PaulWinch again]

It's very weird all these quotes coming out. Anyway I'm surprised they're calling up Tredwell as Australia took him apart in the ODIs, but glad to see Borthwick is getting involved.