Swann reflects on his retirement

Recently retired England off-spinner Graeme Swann has spoken out about his decision to retire in the middle of last summer's Ashes whitewash. 

In a candid interview with All Out Cricket, Swann spoke about the circumstances that led to his decision, as well as the immediate aftermath.

He also responded to the critics, who pilloried him for jettisoning his side with the score at three-nil and England's tour fast sliding off the rails.

"I can understand people saying that (he should feel guilty) because some people are clueless," Swann said.  

"It’s a very black and white, Daily Mail way of thinking about it: ‘Traitor!’ 

"For me, I realised somewhere through the Adelaide Test I just couldn’t bowl the ball how I wanted to anymore. 

"I couldn’t put the revolutions on the ball to get the drift, to get the dip, to get the spin that made me the bowler I was. So I was very clear about that at the time."

Swann also revealed that England captain Alastair Cook pleaded with him to stay on for the third Test in Perth, admitting he was actually prepared to call it quits with the score at 2-0.

He finished with match figures of 3-162 in his final Test, with Shane Watson carting 22 from his last over.

"During that game… when you’re bowling and it’s coming out of your hand perfectly and it feels fine, and then it’s just floating down with no spin on it, horrifically, just waiting to be smashed out of the park…that’s not the bowler I am – or was – or who I wanted to be," Swann said.

"After that game the Ashes were lost, so I didn’t see the point in carrying on for two more games. 

"What would it have achieved? It was a perfect opportunity to get someone playing who potentially could have won the game for England. 

"Had I played and we needed to bowl the Aussies out for 200 last innings, ball gets thrown to the spinner, and you can’t do a job … where’s the use in that?"

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Following the announcement of his retirement, Swann was told by then England coach Andy Flower that he had to leave the tour.

"I’d have loved to stay on," he added. "I was told I couldn’t stay on. 

"It was very much, ‘As soon as you are finished, you have to leave’; 

"I was told in no uncertain terms that I had to go. I was told by Andy Flower. 

"I can understand people saying, ‘You should have stayed and helped the squad out’ but people don’t understand the inner workings and ins and outs of an international cricket tour."

The 35-year-old is now pursuing a career in sports media.