Graeme Swann's parting shot directed at teammates?
Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann‘s post retirement comments have set the media abuzz with speculations about whom the England international might have been taking a swipe at.
The off-spinner, who shocked the cricket world with a surprise decision yesterday to retire from all forms of cricket with immendiate effect, said “Some people playing the game at the minute have no idea how far up their own backsides they are. It will bite them on the a— one day and when it does I hope they look back and are embarrassed about how they carry on.”
Soon after, talks started going around about whether Swann was referring to his own teammates in the England dressing room. Former England captain Michael Vaughan took to twitter to ask Swann to clarify who exactly the comments were directed at. After inferring that Swann was criticising the England team, Vaughan also went on to question why Swann did not confront players who got too big for their boots.
Ex-England international Derek Pringle also suggested that Swann was indeed taking a swipe at his teammates while going on to suggest that it could in particular be Kevin Pietersen. Monty Panesar too had no answers when asked about the comments in a press conference & told journalists that they would have to ask Swann himself.
So @Swannyg66 says some England players heads are up their own Arse???? Which ones exactly??
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 22, 2013
@MichaelVaughan don’t jump to conclusions Vaughney. I wasn’t talking about the England dressing room or anyone in it. You too bbc.
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) December 22, 2013
Just because Derek Pringles writes something I find it astonishing that people buy into it?! Making stuff up sells papers I suppose
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) December 22, 2013
As a respected senior player in the dressing room @Swannyg66 .. Why didn’t you sort players out who got too big for themselves ??
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 22, 2013
Swann has since clarified on twitter that the comments were definitely not directed at his English colleagues but did not mention who he was talking about.
Coming just a day after his retirement, Swann’s comments have caused an unnecessary distraction to an English team in shambles & desperately looking to avoid another defeat in the Boxing Day test match at the MCG.