Graeme Swann Retires from International Cricket

by msp83 Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:00 am

First topic message reminder :

An already struggling England received another jolt today as Graeme Swann, one of the most successful spinners in the history of English cricket made a retirement announcement mid series.
Swann has announced that he won't play the remaining 2 games of the series and the retirement has come into immediate effect. Swann said that he had already known that retirement was not too far away as the body was struggling to meet the demands of a 5 day game. But he wanted to contribute to a 4th successive Ashes win, and now that the series is gone, there is no point playing on.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/current/story/702897.html

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue Dec 24, 2013 8:33 am

KP_fan wrote:
Stella wrote:
KP_fan wrote:They called Tredwell and Borthwick....what's the point, this tour management does not have the courage to play the young and exciting.
So they called that young left arm seamer and have Rankin also in the squad.....but they play tried, tested trundler Bresnan.

Monty will play so why waste sponsors money in getting 2 and not one repalcements.

Although if Eng define the role of spinner as a "restrictor", Tredwell is better from he ook of him I had in champions trophy.
And everyone can bat and field better than Monty

You're right, they keep on picking the old and tested, like Stokes, for instance.

ohhh so you are suggesting there is an even an iota of doubt about Monty playing

If they thought Borthwick was one of the best two spinners they wouldve taken him in the first place.
So why go and pick him now?
Tredwell wont even be there ion time.

So yes, if they play a spinner at all in the next test it will be Panesar.

Also Borthwick is very much an all rounder. Hes been called along for two reasons, firstly hes in Australia playing cricket, and secondly he can balance the side in a 5 man attack should the choose to play two spinners in the final test. What he isnt is a genuinely good attacking spinner with a record to suggest he could be a front line strike bowler nor would you be looking at a young leg spinner to be trying to bowl in a containing role against an aussie side who love smacking them out of the park.

Its hardly a great conspiracy that England are unlikely to pick him for the next test ahead of Panesar is it?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:52 am

Some great points in here regarding what has happened to both Swann and Trott and the mess KP got trying to point out what was going to happen to him

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/703609.html

Also interesting quote ...

KP wrote:Offered the opportunity to douse suggestions that Swann's "heads up their own backsides" comment was aimed at him, Pietersen instead fanned the flames. Instead of saying 'Swann made it clear those words were not aimed at anyone in the England dressing room' - a reply he could and should have given - Pietersen instead replied: "There's a lot worse things I've been called."

"You should come and field with me on Thursday or Friday and see what I get called on the boundary," Pietersen said. "Yesterday was a family day and I'm not giving any energy to what happened. The only energy I've got on this tour left in me is for Melbourne on the 26th, training today, training tomorrow, and Sydney."

It is no secret that Swann and Pietersen are unlikely to spend their retirements embarking on bivouacking trips together. It is usually suggested that they are two vastly different characters with little common ground, though it may be that, in reality, they actually were rather too alike to enjoy such close proximity.

KP certainly believes the comment was aimed in his direction.Perhaps GB nut had a point after all, maybe KP does think he shouldve been Englands number one offspinner Wink

by KP_fan Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:20 pm

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/703595.html

Swann's departure a Knock Out Blow---Warner

Swann didn't care whether from 3-0 Eng lose 5-0 or 3-2....so he dumped and walked away.......although a 3-2 score line would have been so muhc more creditable...ICC points and morale points to be won.

So Warner is right...don't care attitude of Swann's gonna rub on the rest of the team also...and likely to be a knock-out blow.

Trott and Swann gone for good and so is Prior too I suspect.
This is turning into a MELTDOWN and I have a suspicion...this Ashes will claim one more victim by the 5th test.

from the look of a walking like a ghost...and talking like a Robot.......Cook seems like the one to break-down next

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:39 pm

That's what I like about you kpf, such a classy guy.
At leat Warner has the guts to actually punch his targets in public.

by guildfordbat Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:44 pm

KP_fan, perhaps for a few hours tomorrow you might like to cease hostilities and venture out to No Man's Land for a friendly game of T20. Just a thought. Wink

Merry Christmas and optimistic wishes of peace on earth to all who post here,
Guildford.

by msp83 Tue Dec 24, 2013 7:04 pm

To be honest the words of Swanny that become rather controversial didn't seem in very good taste to me when I read it first time, and I did think that it could be perhaps a go at KP. Swann than came out with a not too convincing denial, and now KP too has had his say. Give and take, end on equal terms.

by alfie Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:16 pm

guildfordbat wrote:KP_fan, perhaps for a few hours tomorrow you might like to cease hostilities and venture out to No Man's Land for a friendly game of T20. Just a thought.

Merry Christmas and optimistic wishes of peace on earth to all who post here,
Guildford.

Nice thoughts , guildford. And may you also enjoy the peace and happiness you wish at this time.

And you too , KP_fan : whatever your intentions , you are always good for a laugh. Very Happy

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:29 pm

Yes Merry Christmas all!

Here's to some more good cricket over the next year, and good posting too Whisky

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 9:36 am

Merry Christmas to All cake

May the Boxing Day test matches bring joy to all here Laugh

by Duty281 Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:55 am

What a lovely fellow KP_fan is. After mocking Trott's mental health, he now predicts Cook to suffer the same misfortune.

Charming.

by **Pal Joey** Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:59 am

Just heard Jacques Kallis will retire after this next Test against India.
Magnificent career... and a top bloke too. I wish him all the best in whatever he does thereafter.

by Duty281 Wed Dec 25, 2013 12:04 pm

Linebreaker wrote:Just heard Jacques Kallis will retire after this next Test against India.
Magnificent career... and a top bloke too. I wish him all the best in whatever he does thereafter.

Ditto. He's had an absolutely magnificent career to say the least. clap

by kingraf Wed Dec 25, 2013 12:46 pm

Can't believe that JK is retiring! He's value was on full display in the Wanderers test, taking over the third seamer role after the Morkel went down, taking four wickets in the match, while doing some serious donkey work. The man is irreplaceable, and there is no point even trying. Will be interesting to see who comes in. Maybe Stiaan van Zyl, who has had a dream start to the current season? Or even Quinton de Kock?

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 1:01 pm

Duty281 wrote:What a lovely fellow KP_fan is. After mocking Trott's mental health, he now predicts Cook to suffer the same misfortune.

Charming.

It's not charming but ugly.....Flower has driven Cook to the brink I sense.

Poor guy.....Look at Cook these days.......walking like in sleep....sleeping sitting in dressing room balcony......talking mechanically....delivering statements of positivity, belief, leadership etc without an iota of spirit behind his words

Graeme Swann Retires from International Cricket - Page 4 Cook_a11

Graeme Swann Retires from International Cricket - Page 4 Cook_a11

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 2:13 pm

And after i wrote the above I saw the video on CI homepage Cook addressing the media today....and the headlines screaming " My captaincy is flawed"

The spin Doctor woke him up and sent straight to the media..... rubbing his eyes......to deliver the script " my captaincy is flawed ( and hence I take the blame for the debacle)"

and he did as asked without protesting......poor guy sinking further now under the created perception....all is bad because of his flawed captaincy.

The Spin Doctor is there only to take the credits....and spin the blames on others.

by Duty281 Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:15 pm

Except of course Alastair Cook never said his captaincy was flawed. That's just typical of the pathetic media element that exists in Britain. What he actually said was:

Spoiler:

So some cracks he admits, but he's put it down mainly to lack of experience.

He'e been poor with the bat this series but, in terms of the series as a whole, it's always difficult to win in Australia when your batting line-up is so out of form and I wouldn't put England being 3-0 down down to his captaincy.

by kingraf Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:21 pm

I would however say England having had Australia under the cost in every first innings only to see them wriggle out of it is at least partly Cooks fault

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:35 pm

kingraf wrote:I would however say England having had Australia under the cost in every first innings only to see them wriggle out of it is at least partly Cooks fault

he didn't have the tall fast bowlers to extract the life on offer from the pitch, and the lower middle order of Aus get away.

whose fault was it that there were such bowlers in squad but not in the 11? Shocked

by kingraf Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:41 pm

Height has never ever been a prerequisite for cleaning up a tail. Why would it start with England? I've never been a believer in having a basketball attack for the sake of having one.

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:49 pm

kingraf wrote:Height has never ever been a prerequisite for cleaning up a tail. Why would it start with England? I've never been a believer in having a basketball attack for the sake of having one.

did I say only tall?....or "tall and fast"

by kingraf Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:03 pm

England don't have tall and fast bowlers (emphasis on the plural) on the bench They have one tall and fast bowler whose three Tests have yielded him three wicket... and two basketballers with pace to burn only if the express pace threshold has been moved from the accepted 90mph to near 75mph

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:15 pm

England has Finn, Rankin in the squad who are fast( and tall)

by Duty281 Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:27 pm

KP_fan wrote:England has Finn, Rankin in the squad who are fast( and tall)

The former horrifically out of form, and the latter is completely inexperienced.

by kingraf Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:31 pm

Boyd is fast-ish - But no faster than, say Broad, so I cant see how he is a glaring omission

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:36 pm

kingraf wrote:Boyd is fast-ish - But no faster than, say Broad, so I cant see how he is a glaring omission

well yes ...then play the fastest guys.
Finn out of form....well yeah Bresnan at 125kph is earth shattering form

by Duty281 Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:43 pm

KP_fan wrote:
kingraf wrote:Boyd is fast-ish - But no faster than, say Broad, so I cant see how he is a glaring omission

well yes ...then play the fastest guys.
Finn out of form....well yeah Bresnan at 125kph is earth shattering form

Why play bowlers just for the sake of being fast? It's not the be all and the end.

by KP_fan Wed Dec 25, 2013 5:44 pm

Duty281 wrote:
KP_fan wrote:
kingraf wrote:Boyd is fast-ish - But no faster than, say Broad, so I cant see how he is a glaring omission

well yes ...then play the fastest guys.
Finn out of form....well yeah Bresnan at 125kph is earth shattering form

Why play bowlers just for the sake of being fast? It's not the be all and the end.

they brouhgt 3 of them because they were best in the country not just to make the numbers

by dyrewolfe Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:00 pm

Why are we blaming the lack of big, bullying bowlers like Johnson?

What happened to simple, metronomic accuracy? someone like McGrath or Harris? Not that it matters, as I suspect we don't have anyone like those guys either.

Anyway, as kingraf said, you don't necessarily need Mitchell Johnson type bowlers to clean up a tail. Just doing the basics right should be enough - accurate bowling, good field placings and taking catches when they come.

England have had a few good bowling spells but have failed to be consistently good. I think their mentality has been that, once the top order are out, its job done, which on top of their technical failings, has allowed the Aussies to fight their way out of bad situations.

by alfie Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:23 pm

Not sure about that , direwolfe...

Think it has more been the third and forth bowling options haven't been good enough , this trip. Until today , when Bresnan stepped up , and Stokes too.
Though in fairness , even with the Haddin & co recoveries , Australia were probably only on an ordinary score at the Gabba , and not much above in Perth. Just England's batting response was sub-standard.

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