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In a way, Graeme Swann’s mid-Ashes retirement makes complete sense. In a way it makes none at all.
When I learned of the English off-spinner’s decision yesterday, my response was first surprise, then acceptance, then puzzlement, like a renovated version of the stages of grief. The variability was apt given Swann was my ultimate love-hate cricketer.
He was the perfect opposition player. He antagonised, poked fun, did everything he could to raise hackles, all the things that win adoration from one’s own supporters while getting up the noses of others.
Like the best troublemakers, he backed it up with excellence in his field. His grinning dismissal of Ashton Agar at Trent Bridge was a perfect fist-shaking moment, but you had to admire the catch.
His press conference announcing his retirement fitted the persona: eschewing the platitudes and corporate talk of his teammates in favour of jokes and asides.
However often he took the mickey out of others, he never committed the sin of taking himself seriously. This always had him top of the list of England players I’d like to have a beer with. In an interesting intersection of chance, I shared several with his cricket-writing brother Alec during the last Ashes in England, who was an immaculate host and interview subject.
However much he might have got under my skin at times, I had no choice but to admire Graeme Swann’s career, one that seemed to come from nowhere.
Debuting at age 29, he was hardly talked up as the next spin wonder. But six years as one of the most consistent and prolific bowlers in Test cricket now sees him sixth on England’s all-time wicket-takers list, with 255.
You can also throw in 104 from ODIs and 51 from T20 internationals.
He was much admired for thriving with a classical straight-arm off-spin action, recalling memories of past eras. He got substantial side spin and was deadly against left-handed batsmen. He could attack and contain within the one innings. He was the first truly dangerous English spinner in decades, and will be the hardest man in this team to replace.
So why the sudden retirement? Swann said that he was struggling physically in Test matches, that his arm was tiring in the second innings and his form was tapering as matches went on. He didn’t feel he could offer his best.
That part makes sense, in the overall scheme of things. But the other part of Swann’s rationale, the part that involves making his decision so abruptly mid-tour, only sounds reasonable at first glance.
“I think to stay on and selfishly play just to experience another Boxing Day Test match and another Sydney Test match would be wrong… It’s time for someone else to strap themselves in and enjoy the ride like I have done,” he said.
Sure, if Swann were standing in the way of a spinning Ben Stokes. But England’s backup spinner is Monty Panesar. With 31 years and 49 Tests on the clock, Panesar hardly represents a generational change or a bowler whose capabilities can be developed.
Leaving immediately just means England are down one more experienced player for the remaining Tests, forcing them to rely on a bowler the selectors have assessed as an inferior option.
It also exacerbates the chaos that England’s tour has become. Jonathan Trott’s personal welfare was paramount, but his departure caused great disruption to team balance and plans. Two Tests later and Swann is no more, with Kevin Pietersen and Alistair Cook jaded and ill at ease.
Suddenly the Ashes-winning team of a few months ago is falling to pieces in front of our eyes. Rather than walking away being the selfless act, Swann’s team may have benefited more from a display of unity under pressure.
The decision has already thrown up a lot of stupid talk about Swann lacking resoluteness, or harbouring a concern about his bowling average. He has never been anything but a team man, and sending down 4000 deliveries under the Asian sun should bely any questions of fortitude.
One of sportswriting’s consistent faults lies in presuming to read the subject’s mind. All one can clearly say is that Swann is downcast after the highest of Ashes hopes were trashed, and that his statement indicates he feels partly responsible.
His response, I would speculate, is an attempt to do the right thing, but in this case the execution is flawed.
Seeing out the tour may have been the better option. His tour may have turned around: the highest wicket-taker from the northern Ashes didn’t become a bad bowler in a couple of weeks.
Nevertheless, the manner and timing of any retirement can be debated. Lord knows we heard enough about a certain Indian batsman over the last five years.
Given the years of work and sacrifice required to reach international cricket, no player gives it up lightly.
Swann’s decision will make sense to some and not others, but it was nobody else’s to make. However divergent our opinions on that decision, there should be far more accord in saluting the career that preceded it.