Dismissed off a no-ball and denied twice with the ball by DRS.
Easily out-pointed by an Australian spinner who was the last man picked in his side’s bowling attack.
It hasn’t been Graeme Swann’s Test.
And it remains to be seen whether his luck will change any time soon this Ashes series after England’s No.1 spinner was reduced to mere mortal status in the first Test in Brisbane.
Swann played a crucial role in England’s 3-0 Ashes series win earlier this year, leading the wicket-taking tally with 26 scalps at 29 in five Tests on wickets tailor-made for the 34-year old.
But he resembled an understudy at the Gabba after struggling on a bouncy deck that Australia’s Nathan Lyon – who boasted first-innings figures of 2-17 but averages 32.70 in 26 Tests – has made look much more menacing.
One two-over spell from Swann cost 28 runs in Australia’s second innings of 7-401 on Saturday.
Adding further insult, debutant George Bailey had the audacity to smack the veteran back over his head for six.
In the end, Swann finished with 2-135 off 27 overs, bowling a charging Michael Clarke (113) and Bailey (36) as Australia chased quick second-innings runs.
He has match figures of 2-215.
Even baby-faced part-time England spinner Joe Root (0-57 off 15) looked more dangerous with the ball on Saturday.
Then again the portents weren’t good for Swann from the outset in Brisbane.
After finishing with 0-80 off 26 overs in Australia’s first innings, Swann’s luck didn’t change when he was dismissed for a five-ball duck by Mitchell Johnson – off what replays later revealed was a no-ball.
His wicket capped England’s staggering 6-9 collapse as they were routed for 136.
He had some luck with the ball in the second innings – unfortunately most of it was bad.
A confident lbw shout against David Warner was denied by the third umpire after hot spot revealed an inside edge.
But Swann had every right to be upset after another DRS call was wasted when Bailey was hit on the back pad, only for the third umpire to deny another lbw appeal.
Still, Swann appeared exposed when on a foreign deck and denied a healthy serving of left-handers that he had feasted on in the past.
“There’s a certain dismantling here of England’s premier spinner,” England’s Jonathan Agnew said on ABC Radio.
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