Swann's gran slams 'nasty' Aussies
Mina Swann told The Journal that she was saddened by her grandson's retirement from cricket and believes something "nasty" happened.
The 89-year-old had one Australian player in mind but just like her grandson took aim at an unnamed member of his own team for being "up their own backsides", Mrs Swann refused to name names.
"There is something gone wrong there and I blame the Australian players. Not all the Australian players, a certain one," she said. "When the team went down to Australia and that young lad came back, there was something going wrong then.
"I do not think they have been (made) very welcome, the team. He is not easily upset, there is something nasty happened."
"He was as happy as Larry. He adored his cricket. It is a damn shame, he has lived for that game, he has done everything for that game," Mrs Swann said. "I am very disappointed because that is one thing I look forward to. I will be very disappointed when he is not there."
Swann started playing cricket in the garden of his grandma's homein Blyth.
He starred in three victorious Ashes series , and was the brains behind the famous Sprinkler dance which became a hit with players and fans alike.
Swann's ambiguous outburst raised new questions about team unity and morale.
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The veteran off-spinner had said: "Some people playing the game at the moment 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 carried on."
Assuming Swann was referring to English players, former captain Michael Vaughan asked on Twitter "which ones exactly?" adding that he agreed some players were getting ahead of themselves but "I don't think he should have said it the day after retiring."
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Journalist Derek Pringle, a former Test player, suggested Swann's outburst was "a barely disguised swipe at some of his fellow England players for not respecting the game."
Pringle said Swann "refused to name the guilty players but it is well-known he and Kevin Pietersen do not send each other Christmas cards."
Swann replied to Vaughan's tweet, denying he was referring to teammates.
"Don't jump to conclusions Vaughney. I wasn't talking about the England dressing room or anyone in it. You too BBC," he posted, and then deleted it.
Vaughan hit back with: "We all make mistakes @Swannyg66 . I make plenty ... I am afraid on this occasion you have made one."
So who has earned Swann's disdain?
If it's not Pietersen or any of the other tourists, the next most obvious candidates would be the Australians - but which ones?
Swann's unexpected retirement was already controversial, with outspoken English media figure Piers Morgan leading the charge in one direction with: " ... it's not courageous to quit an Ashes series before its finished, its selfish."
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
I agree with @Swannyg66 that some players are getting ahead of themselves but I don't think he should have said it the day after retiring...
Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 22, 2013
This tour for England was already a disaster.... Now it's a bloody joke...
Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 22, 2013
British media firebrand Piers Morgan - a close friend of Kevin Pietersen - couldn't resist unleashing on Twitter.
Just despicable. Send him home, immediately. #Swann #Ashes #Traitor
Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 22, 2013
Most, though, accepted that with his 34 year old body arcing up at the workload, he was entitled to time his sign-off as he saw fit.
He said he regarded his teammates as family and was nervous about moving on without their mateship.
He also said playing international cricket was like winning the lottery. "It annoys me when people take it for granted and get above their station because they shouldn't.
"It's the most privileged thing any man can do."
That was seen as an applaudable exit line which might have retrieved any goodwill he lost when he was forced to apologise for a regrettable social media gaffe in which he compared the Perth defeat with being raped.
