Just a few months ago Graeme Swann was a key figure in England’s 3-0 Ashes win over Australia.
As the series’ leading wicket-taker – 26 at 29.0 – he was a major architect in Australia’s demise.
Along with his teammates he arrived on our shores seeking his country’s fourth consecutive Ashes series win.
Most saw England as a strong favourite to retain the urn however history will indicate a very stark and different outcome.
After three Tests, and inside 14 days of cricket, Australia had run amok to the point that the sport’s most famous trophy had changed hands on the back of three resounding victories to the tune of 381, 218 and 150 runs.
With the Ashes changing hands after the Perth Test much of the media focus moved to the future of several of the England squad.
Would some fall foul of the selectors following the sub-standard performance down under?
Geoff Boycott opined earlier today that Kevin Pietersen was a ‘mug’ and that his self-absorbed outlook was detrimental to the England cause.
And then – BANG – out of the blue came the announcement that Swann was ending his career, effective immediately!
One can imagine that even his teammates were taken aback when they were informed prior to him telling the cricket world through his regular column with England’s The Sun newspaper.
The starkness in performances by Swann in these two back-to-back Ashes series has been both strong and insightful.
In England he was favoured by pitches that were tailored for his bowling.
The hosts believed that the biggest gulf between the two sides with respect to the bowling line-ups was in the spin department.
Swann, who entered the series with 222 wickets, went head-to-head in the first two matches at Trent Bridge and Lord’s with teenage debutant Ashton Agar.
Then, for the last three matches, he was offset by Nathan Lyon – a man recalled to the Australian team for the second time in five Tests.
It proved to be a no contest with Swann’s guile and experience proving too much for Australia’s batsmen, most noticeably Chris Rogers and Usman Khawaja.
Allied to his efforts on dry and abrasive pitches was the fact that the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad were able to extract valuable reverse swing with the heavily scuffed Dukes ball.
But, come Australia, it has proven to be a very different scenario for Swann.
This is his second series on our shores.
Both have proved to be challenging and frustrating.
In 2010-11, he captured 15 wickets at 39.8.
Seven of those wickets came in the Test at Adelaide where he claimed his only five wicket haul on our shores – 5-91 in Australia’s first innings.
This time around he has found the going even tougher.
His match figures have not been pretty – 2-215 at Brisbane, 2-182 at Adelaide and 3-163 at Perth.
He felt the wrath of Shane Watson’s blade during the Perth Test when he went for 22 runs off one over.
His seven wickets have come at 80 runs apiece, this from a man who arrived in Australia with 248 wickets at 28.6.
This time around he has been clearly outshone by Lyon who has captured 10 wickets at 31.4.
With the Ashes having been surrendered 34-year-old Swann feels it is time to go.
In his eight Tests on Australian soil his 22 wickets came at 52.6 runs apiece.
His next worst country to tour, by way of averages, is South Africa where it is 31.4.
Swann however is by no means an orphan.
Australia has proven to be a graveyard for many of the world’s best off-spinners.
In five Tests in Australia world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan claimed 12 wickets at 75.4.
The tenth most productive Test wicket-taker of all-time, Harbhajan Singh, also had a bleak time in Australia with his four Tests yielding nine wickets at 73.2.
When you consider the performances of that trio of wicket-takers – they have 1468 between them – it is interesting to compare them with modern-day Australian off-spinners in their own backyard.
The incumbent Lyon has played 14 Tests at home for 46 wickets at 33.1, while Tim May’s 13 matches at home produced 30 wickets at 40.0.
For whatever reason, many visiting off-spinners have found the going tough in Australia, regardless of their pedigree.
Swann is the latest of them.
So much so, it has brought about his immediate retirement mid-series.
IndianCricketFan
Guest
it's not hypocrisy...it would have been hypocrisy chrysto if i would have supported kohli's actions in the excuse of his tough childhood but i have clearly stated thta i didn't appreciate kohli's behaviour in his young days and definitely not what he did in australia if anything it should be called as admission of guilt and used to stress the point again that aussies have to stop sledging and talk with their cricket on the pitch not their words!
IndianCricketFan
Guest
i agree BCCI doesn't win many fans by their control of cricket but that's just how sports are run int eh world...no one likes sepp blatter but he runs the most powerful sporting body in the world...i am very disillusioned how bcci runs ipl but the recent inroads made in the ranji trophy(sheffield shield for aussies)has given us a very good test team,something which can bring the glory days of indian test cricket back on away tours.
dc-nz
Guest
ICF I don't like the sledging either but thats pro sport buddy. welcome to the monied world of big business sport. the BCCI have prolly got more blackmarks anyway, with their corrupt system of bribes and back door dealings.
dc-nz
Guest
yeah just like the BCCI buries all of its corruption-match-fixing-dirty money laundering deals ...!
langou
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what Indian Cricket Fan said originally but there are strong links between workplace bullying and mental illness. In my mind everyone should be free to go to their workplace (including the professional sporting field) and not be verbally abused with personal insults.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
Not really, Johnno. I'm afraid us Poms are pretty much used to losing over the years. You get immune to the repeated disappointments after a while. It's not something we get too worked up over. However, we have been enjoying a period of relative success for our sporting heroes lately. Two Tour de France & Wimbledon, for example. Winning 4 out of 5 Ashes series...unheard of! But, all good things come to an end. Hey, I always slip, slap, slop, Johnno. So, I guess I'm never red-faced on either account...
dc-nz
Guest
Ok I am guilty of trolling, only happens end of the year when its freaking hot and humid in sydney...and my brain fries up. the SA vs AUS contest will be thrilling. game on.
GD66
Guest
Steyn, Philander and Morkel did enough last time they were in Australia to suggest that is by no means a probability.
Mark
Guest
Indian Cricket Fan, I think I know what your favourite Suicidal Tendencies song is.
sheek
Roar Guru
ak, We'll have to agree to disagree. I didn't agree with Damien Martyn suddenly quitting either. BTW, did Swann agree to tour Australia for the whole tour, or only until things started to get too hot for him? He should remain part of the team irrespective of whether he is chosen to play the last two tests or not. What if Panesar or whoever else is injured? Will Swann come out of retirement? It's a joke! And who's the young player that Swann is stepping aside for? My understanding is that Panesar is the other tour spinner. However, this seems to be the way with the modern sportsman, a contract basically means nothing.
Sage
Guest
Grow up Robbo and show a little bit of class. Unwarranted.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I wasn't mentioning anyone in particular. Interesting you came up with a name all by yourself. And then proceeded to make excuses for him. Hypocrisy...
Armchair Expert
Guest
Yes Johnno, he played the next 2 tests but made only 2 runs from 4 innings, was dropped and never played tests again, I remember the standing ovation he received every time he fielded the ball when I was in the crowd in what turned out to be his last test. Hughes recently likened Trott's recent situation to his, but I imagine you disagree.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Martyn's retirement was apparently a result of him "winding up Anderson" in the incident with Clarke and "scuffling" with Matt Hayden.
peeeko
Roar Guru
go and have a good lie down, you seem very angry, all this anger can not be good for you. also your caps lock button seems to get stuck a lot
peeeko
Roar Guru
Warner is not a national hero, you will find quite a lot of people who dislike him
peeeko
Roar Guru
agree Jez, no need to comment like that Robbo. he is making a big enough embarrassment of himself.
Sandy
Guest
Ahh, but Australian Rules did you find IndianCricketFan or indian cricket fan? In all fairness I think indian cricket fan came after IndianCricketFan. Would you call that an identity crisis....or just...
Magic Sponge
Guest
Will beat SA
jeznez
Roar Guru
That is out of order Robbo. ICF is talking some rubbish but doesn't warrant that kind of comment.