Reports suggesting he was planning to retire after this series anyway. Unusual timing though. Possibly that elbow injury? Presumably he doesn't want to worsen it with the Ashes gone. I wonder whether they'll play Monty or call up a youngster from the Performance Squad. Briggs?
As said, he was thinking of retiring at end of series, but it apparently took the management team by surprise that he went now. Bet it was a combination of being unfit, not feeling that he was going to do better in the next few games, and general depression about the tour. The ill advised comment on Facebook was probably more of a symptom of how he was feeling rather than a reason for retirement. Don't know the full story, but rat and sinking ship springs to mind...if possible, should have stuck with his team mates,,,but. as I said, don't know the full story.
I think there was a strong chance that he would have been dropped for the last two tests. Oz have played him superbly and by changing their order, with right handers in the middle order this negated his threat somewhat, when he would be at his most dangerous. Rather than rip through them, they have been smashing him out of the ground. He's not even been chipping in with runs like he used to, so his place was certainly on the line. if he had been dropped and retired at the end of the series, it would look like he's retired just because he has been dropped. At least this way he has done it on his own terms. Hopefully they bring Briggs in for the last 2 tests to at least be around the squad. Good luck to Swanny, he's been brilliant for us and we wouldn't have had half the success without him. Prior the next to retire?
Should have waited until after the series had finished. Feels like he's copping out just to get home for xmas. Probably got wind he was going to be dropped and threw his toys out of the pram, as he's always struck me as one of those types. Good in the dressing room when the team is winning, but a liability when they are not. Has been a good impact bowler on home soil, but don't consider him to be anywhere close to a "great".
Feels like the wrong thing to do to me also. It's like he doesn't want to be a part of that negative homecoming the team will get. Simple question: would he have retired at this stage had we been winning, drawing or only one down in the series? I doubt it. Bit of a cop out for me too.
Swann's been England's best spinner for a long long time and nobody else has taken more Test wickets since he made his debut. I'm fairly sure he's staying in Australia for a while so won't be home for Christmas. It's odd timing but not unheard of, I can think of Damien Martyn who retired after 2 Tests of the 06/07 Ashes. If he doesn't feel he's able to perform any more (and his bowling figures suggest he can't) then why stay in the team for anther couple of games? England can move on now. Get Monty in the side or give Briggs a go.
Not long ago the English media were laughing at the state of Aussie spin bowling after Warne retired. Think it will them laughing at us now and for a few years.
We do have some good young spinners in the county circuit though. With international teams like the England cricket team, rugby team etc, there is a constant cycle where the team reaches their peak level like England did when they reached number 1 in the test rankings but then a few years down the line the players get past their best and start retiring. England are now entering their rebuilding phase like they did after the thumping in Australia in 2007. Swann's gone, no one has any idea when Trott will return, KP's on the decline. It is now time to start replacing these places gradually. The first task is to work on a new spinner. Kerrigan must get his chance in the new year. England have got young players to work with: Stokes, Kerrigan, Woakes, Root, Bairstow, Finn and Cook and Broad are only 28 and 27 so they've got plenty of years left in them.
I think Briggs is more likely at the moment just because he's in Australia and Kerrigan isn't. It's possible they won't call anyone up unless Monty gets injured.
Australia won the toss and are fielding. Eng were 96-1 . 135-3. at tea . Attendance = 90,831. world record.....
Cook out for 27 , Carberry out for 38 , Root out for 24.........KP was caught , but the fielder went over the rope.......
Cook came out and started positively and looked in good nick and I thought hey game on, Then wicket and lunch 71-1 not to bad. Then Wicket followed by wickets and more in your shell batting. England need to show more aggression in all aspects of our game.
That day's play is actually a pretty decent day for England. I know we lost late wickets, but we have actually batted through a whole day and Pietersen is looking in better nick.
